BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
One of the most rapidly growing areas of Southwest Ohio could see a sudden stop in development if problems with the sewer system aren't fixed.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) is unlikely to approve new sewer permits for major developments in parts of Hamilton County's Sycamore and Symmes townships and Warren County's Deerfield Township until the Metropolitan Sewer District devises a way to handle the area's sewer overflow, said James Simpson, surface water manager for the OEPA's Southwest District.
Already, heavy rains often cause an overflow of raw sewage and storm water in parts of the Polk Run drainage basin. Without some improvements to the current system, additional development would exacerbate the problem, Mr. Simpson said.
"We have an active overflow of a (sewer) system that's at a point downstream from where everybody and their brother wants to build something," he said.
The sewer overflow problems already have claimed one victim: A plan for a 448-unit development of upscale apartments, condominiums and single-family homes in Sycamore Township was put on hold indefinitely after the OEPA recently denied its sewer permit. According to MSD Deputy Director Michael Sweeney, that project is the only large-scale development upstream from the sewer overflow problems that is in the works.
Sam Huttenbauer Jr., a partner for the project along with Towne Properties, said he planned to begin construction on the development this summer. He had hoped to capitalize on the rapid development and growing demand for upscale housing spurred by the area's proximity to Interstates 71 and 275.
Instead, he'll have to wait for the MSD to figure out a new way to combat the sewer overflow.
"MSD is really trying hard to find a solution to this problem," Mr. Huttenbauer said.
The OEPA has worked with the sewer district to find ways to embrace development without overloading the system. The agency gave "credits" to the district for rain water that it diverted from the system in exchange for additional sewage.
But "we're all out of credits," Mr. Simpson said of the MSD. "They don't have anything left to trade. The bottom line is if you have eight gallons of water and a five-gallon bucket, it doesn't all fit."
The OEPA has offered possible solutions, including building on-site sewage disposal systems or new, smaller wastewater treatment plants. Also, reducing the size of projects may make them more palatable to the OEPA, he said.
In addition, it's possible that MSD could create a faster flow in the line and solve the overflow of raw sewage in the area, Mr. Sweeney said. The district also could enlarge the treatment plants at the other end, called the Sycamore and Polk Run plants. MSD is studying that now, he said. The study should be complete in about six months. Still, there are no easy solutions, Mr. Simpson said.
"You're not going to find any of this stuff on a shelf at Wal-Mart," he said. "These projects cost hundreds of thousands, millions of dollars, and could take years."
Staff Writer Anne Michaud contributed to this report.
