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stormwater
RAIN
Stormwater and melted snow or ice: if it’s not absorbed into the ground
(where it will eventually flow to a nearby body of water), it will probably
flow to a storm drain or street sewer.
STORM SEWERS
Sewer systems in newer communities include a separate storm sewer that drains directly to a nearby body of water such as Lake Erie. Because storm sewers carry floating debris from streets and parking lots without treatment, we encourage residents to be aware of what does (and what shouldn't) go down their storm drains.
COMBINED
SEWERS
Older cities in Northeast Ohio use combined
sewers to carry both stormwater and wastewater in the same pipe to a treatment plant. In Northeast Ohio, the Sewer District is exploring ways to better manage stormwater and combined sewer overflows across the region.
TREATMENT PLANT
Wastewater
treatment plants treat wastewater to meet very high standards before releasing
it to the environment. The treatment process removes bacteria and harmful pollutants
from the flow coming into the Sewer District's three wastewater treatment plants
to make it safe for the environment and public health.
RIVER/LAKE
When storm sewers drain directly to a nearby waterway, debris or litter can
pollute the waterway or clog sewers, neither of which is very pretty, or good
for the environment. In a combined sewer system, the flow is treated at a treatment
plant before being released to the environment.