BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
New Year's Eve of the next millennium will see Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) workers on the job ready to make sure the year 2000 flows in smoothly despite the dreaded Y2K computer disease.
MSD officials told Hamilton County commissioners Monday they plan to double their staff working the evening of Dec. 31, 1999, as a precaution to any problems from county computers that do not properly record 2000. at MSD's six water-treatment plants that evening, with up to 20 information technology workers operating computer systems.
The county has already been working to correct program flaws of computer systems that would be unable to accurately process data when the calendar year switches to 2000, said Mr. Nalley.
A worst-case scenario would still allow MSD's waste-treatment plants to operate, Mr. Nalley told commissioners, because of backup electrical systems and manual operation of plant equipment.
Moreover, he said many sewer systems work via gravity — with backup electrical generators — and would remain operational despite a computer shutdown.
But the unusual holiday staffing will also be prepared should the Y2K computer bug knock out ancillary systems such as phones and electricity.
MSD officials and commissioners all stressed that the likelihood of widespread sewer and waste-treatment problems is slim.
“We fully expect waste water will be treated without interruption,” said commission President Tom Neyer.
County officials said they have been aggressively tackling the Y2K problem at the MSD and other county departments, and are optimistic that the evening of Dec. 31, 1999, will not turn chaotic for the county after midnight.
Mr. Nalley told commissioners that the county in recent years delayed buying new computer software as manufacturers updated it to make it Y2K-safe.
In other actions
•County commissioners approved a recommendation by public works officials for a public hearing on a proposed $1.6 million water main that would run underneath 2.5 miles of Harrison Avenue.
The Jan. 13 public hearing — at 7 p.m. at the Whitewater Township Senior Citizens Center — will be held to discuss the water main's installation from just west of Buena Vista Avenue to Whitewater Forest Park.
Property owners along the route will be notified by mail about the meeting and the proposed project, which will tie up traffic on Harrison Avenue.
“It's going to be pretty crowded. That's our biggest concern,” Public Works Director Gary Van Hart said of anticipated traffic problems.
•Commissioners ordered MSD officials to report back on two tentative sewer policy proposals.
One pertains to a new inspection policy for property owners wanting to connect private sewer systems to the county's public system.
The other would clarify sewer assessments projects, which historically required the approval of more than 50 percent of property owners in the affected area. The new policy may allow for a project to proceed with less than 50 percent of property owners approving.
MSD officials are to report back to commissioners next month and will then schedule public hearings before commissioners vote on the new policies.
