Louisville MSD's Data Driven Digital Transformation Journey Over 20 Years

The Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) in Kentucky has been at the national forefront of using innovative engineering practices, data-driven advanced analytics as well as automated systems to effectively protect local community waterways. Setting a bold vision of being the innovative regional utility for safe, clean waterways, MSD understood early on that cultural and organizational transformation is paramount to the success of embracing and integrating new technologies to meet utility goals and regulatory compliance. This paper showcases concrete examples of MSD’s digital and organizational transformation journey over the last two decades which include the timelines required to implement the projects, the projects outcome, and a summary of the resulting value which includes expanding the system and assets while improving workforce and operational efficiency, saving of over $200M in capital costs, and reducing overflows by more than two billion gallons per typical year.