Thank you for participating in our online public meeting! The City of Omaha is conducting this public meeting virtually instead of in person to protect the health and safety of participants.
The session should take no more than 15 minutes to review.
HOW TO NAVIGATE
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HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Scroll through the entire online meeting to learn more about the Long Term Control Plan update. Questions may be submitted by emailing info@OmahaCSO.com, or by filling out this form.
What is the CSO Program?
Clean Solutions for Omaha (CSO!) is an unfunded, federally mandated water quality program created to make the Missouri River and Papillion Creek and its tributaries cleaner and safer for the community.
- The Program began implementation of projects in 2010
- It will significantly reduce combined sewer overflows in the Missouri River and area streams by 2037 in accordance with the federal Clean Water Act
- The Program is on track with expected progress to meet the 2037 completion date
Pictured: Nicholas Street Phase 2
Why does Omaha experience combined sewer overflows?
- The combined sewer system in older Omaha areas collects both sanitary sewage in dry weather (domestic, commercial and industrial) and stormwater runoff in one sewer pipe
- When it rains, the combination of stormwater and sanitary flows in the combined system can exceed the capacity of the collection and treatment system, causing untreated combined sewage to overflow into nearby bodies of water. Combined sewer overflows contain untreated or partially treated human and industrial waste, toxic materials and debris, as well as stormwater
Pictured: CSO 105 during rain event
CSO Goals
- Regulatory compliance: Reduce pollutant discharge to the Missouri River and Papillion Creek by meeting regulatory requirements under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE)
- Economic affordability: Minimize cost impact to ratepayers by completing Projects within or under budget
- Community acceptance: Maintain continuous public dialogue, provide information and pursue multiple benefits in CSO Projects
Pictured: Adams Park
How CSO Goals Are Met
- To maximize efficiency and contain cost, CSO utilizes a variety of alternatives (or controls) to meet our goals
- Controls include: Sewer separation, lift stations, high rate treatment facilities, improvements to existing facilities, and storage tanks
- The Long Term Control Plan is an adaptable roadmap for the Program that details which controls are used and when
- The Long Term Control Plan is typically updated and approved approximately every five years
- Each update is officially approved by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE)
- The second, updated Long Term Control Plan has been approved by the NDEE and is now publicly available on the CSO website
Pictured: CSO 105 outfall during dry weather
What CSO Has Accomplished
Significant Impacts
- Completed CSO Projects represent approximately over 50% volume capture of combined sewage. 85% volume capture of combined sewage is the goal.
- CSO Projects have met requirements in the most cost-effective manner
Missouri River Water Resource Recovery Facility
Significant Impacts
- Originally built in 1964, improvements made from 2014-2019
- Accomplished through a combination of new facilities and maximizing the use of existing facilities
- Estimated that treatment and conveyance projects working together will reduce E. coli loading to the Missouri River by approximately 50%
Pictured: Missouri River Water Resource Recovery Facility
Fontenelle Lagoon Improvements & Sewer Separation
Significant Impacts
- Expanded size and storage capacity of existing Fontenelle Lagoon, accepts additional stormwater for detention
- Sewer separation directs stormwater to the lagoon and reduces the risk of basement backups and street flooding in the area
- Environmentally friendly way to capture stormwater to lessen the demand on the sewer system
- Reduces flow rates and volumes in the downstream combined sewer system, reducing size and cost of downstream facilities and overflows to our river
Pictured: Fontenelle Park Lagoon
Missouri Avenue / Spring Lake Park Sewer Separation
Significant Impacts
- Sewer separations (in progress) + green infrastructure (complete in 2016)
- Green infrastructure elements reduced need for a new pipe system downstream, which reduced the cost of the Project while meeting its goal
- Separate funds further revitalized the historic park in South Omaha, providing recreational enhancements that improved quality of life for neighbors
Pictured: Spring Lake Park Lagoon
Latest CSO Evaluations and Updates
Adaptive Management and Optimization Processes
Omaha has implemented an adaptive management process that continually evaluates the effectiveness of ongoing projects.
- Projects take advantage of newer technologies and more efficient practices that develop throughout the years
- Incorporates more cost-effective technologies in the 2021 Long Term Control Plan update
Additional, Identified Refinements
In early 2018, the CSO Program began exploring more cost-efficient project alternatives through an extensive optimization in preparation for the 2021 Long Term Control Plan update.
- Used state-of-the-art modeling tools and techniques to review the success of completed and current projects to determine what will work best in the future
- Identified projects that need further evaluation, redesign, additional construction or can be removed entirely from the Long Term Control Plan
Updated LTCP Schedule
- There are 29 projects in the Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) update to be delivered over the next 16 years
- 13 projects are anticipated to be completed during the 2021-2026 CSO Permit term
- This number varies from the previous LTCP Update and is the result of the evaluations
Benefits of the Selected Option
- Meets the 85% capture goal
- Potential savings over $350 million
- Replaces the 5.4-mile tunnel project that was previously planned
- May help offset future rate increases
- CSO Program has successful experience implementing similar Project alternatives, ensuring higher Project efficiency
- Allows for investments in future wastewater projects
Revised Solution
As approved in the 2021 Long Term Control Plan
- High-rate treatment facility along the river north of downtown
- Divert flow from downtown to Grace Street RTB
- Underground storage tank near river south of downtown
- Active management of combined sewage collection systems flows
Pictured: Missouri River looking southeast
Stay In-The-Know
- Sign up for the quarterly CSO newsletter
- Follow @OmahaPublicWrks on Twitter for weekly CSO updates
- Visit omahacso.com for informational materials
Pictured: Fontenelle Park Lagoon South Inlet Structure
What's Next for Public Works?
Feedback
Thank you for taking the time to review this online meeting. You can provide a comment by emailing info@OmahaCSO.com, or by filling out this form.