We are not alone.

The City of Ashland is not alone. There are hun- dreds of communities across the nation that have combined sewers and more than a dozen commu- nities in the State of Kentucky.

In order to comply with the current regula- Department of Engineering tions, the City of Ashland is navigating and Utilities through numerous obstacles like costly infrastructure projects, increased user 1700 Greenup Ave rates, new operational and reporting P.O. Box 1839 Ashland, KY 41105 Combined Sewers requirements and disruption to existing Director: Ryan S. Eastwood, P.E. City facilities. Phone: 606-327-2008 Fact Sheet Nearly all of these communi- Fax: 606-327-2060 ties are experiencing similar obsta- Web: www.ashlandky.gov cles on our path to compliance with the Clean Water Act. What are combined sewers?

Combined sewers systems are sewer sys- tems that carry both domestic, commer- What are the risks associated cial and industrial wastewater; and storm with the discharge of raw sewage? water. Combined sewer systems were the Raw sewage can carry a variety of human norm for the mid- to late-19th century be- bacteria and viruses. Depending on the fore centralized wastewater treatment amount and concentration of the sewage became the solution to protecting public and how long people are exposed to it, health of the increasing populations lo- these bacteria and vi- cated in urban areas. If you have walked What is a combined sewer over- ruses can cause ill- the streets of Phila- flow? nesses. Combined delphia, New York After centralized wastewater treatment be- sewer overflows also or Paris, you have came required for cities with combined contain a variety of most likely walked sewer systems, adjustments were made chemicals, oils and over large, com- that directed the dry weather flow to the other wastes which plex combined treatment plant. However, the surface wa- may cause harm to our sewer systems with- ter outfall pipes were left in place with di- rivers and streams. Most combined sewer out realizing it. version structures such as weirs and dams overflow events occur during precipitation to create “relief” points during times of in- and are therefore diluted by rainwater Originally, combined sewer systems dis- creased precipitation or heavy rain. If the and river water, but the potential for charged continuously into the streams wastewater flow is too much for the sewer health and environmental and rivers at various outfalls along the sys- system to handle then wastewater will spill hazards is still present. The tem to minimize the contact between over the diversion structures and discharge people most likely to be people and waste. The majority of the directly to creeks or streams. These types of affected are the people combined sewer systems in Kentucky are discharges are called combined sewer who use the creeks and located along the Ohio River because overflows, or CSOs (see the graphic rivers for recreation. most of these river towns are older. Also, above). Without the combined sewer out- some larger cities opted for combined fall pipes, the wastewater and extra storm- There are water quality standards in Ken- sewers because they were the cheapest water would overwhelm the system and tucky regulating the amount of certain option. Now, separate sanitary sewers are cause backups in basements, streets and bacteria in the water. When these stan- the standard for transport of wastewater other areas of public use. The City of Ash- dards are exceeded, the Division of Water, to a wastewater treatment facility. Storm land has 8 permitted combined sewer out- in conjunction with the Department for water is conveyed by separate systems. falls to protect the public from contact with Health Services, issues advisories to alert this waste. the citizens of potential health hazards.