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Metropolitan Sewer District outlines budget, consent‑decree measures and sewer‑backup program
Summary
MSD officials briefed the committee on a $240.9 million operating budget, consent‑decree performance metrics including reduced preventable overflows, and outreach for a customer assistance discount program; MSD emphasized continuing large capital projects reimbursed in part by state and federal partners.
Deputy Director Jenny Richmond and MSD staff presented the Metropolitan Sewer District's operating and program status to the Budget and Finance Committee, including a $240.9 million operating budget appropriated by the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners and the district’s performance under consent‑decree obligations.
Jenny Richmond, deputy director of operations at MSD, said the district’s operating budget was appropriated on Dec. 12, 2024 and totals $240,900,000. She described personnel costs of about $66.62 million, nonpersonnel costs around $80.1 million, an $8.2 million sewer‑backup program allocation, and $86 million for MSD‑related debt service; the total represented an approximate $3 million increase from 2024, MSD staff said.
MSD reported progress on consent‑decree metrics. Staff said reportable sanitary overflows numbered 58 in the first quarter (about 10% preventable by the metric’s definition) and 40 in the second quarter (all wet‑weather related). MSD said the district met its requirement to dispatch customer‑service crews to sewer‑backup calls within four hours (a federal consent‑decree requirement) in both quarters.
On wastewater‑treatment compliance, the district reported 100% achievement of NPDES permit‑related items across its nine manned treatment facilities for the quarters reported. MSD also described the sewer‑backup prevention program: since its inception in 2004 the program has installed 1,455 prevention devices and 35 devices were added in 2024. Staff explained eligibility criteria tied to capacity‑related backups and directed residents to MSD’s customer service number to report backups.
Richmond described three major near‑term challenges: changes in the regulatory environment that could increase treatment costs, upcoming major construction at two treatment plants that will require staffing, and inflation‑related increases in chemicals and equipment. She said 2025 consent‑decree linked capital projects total about $529.7 million and include several large projects—East Branch Ohio River Interceptor (eBORI), a solids disposal facility at Little Miami, and a potential expansion at Mill Creek—some of which receive external reimbursement such as state transportation funding for eBORI.
On customer assistance, MSD said about 19,000 customers are eligible for a 25% sewer bill discount; participation stood just under 19% and the district is conducting outreach to raise enrollment.
Ending: The committee filed the MSD presentation; no committee vote or new appropriation was taken during the session.
