Repurposing a Storm Sewer to Reduce CSO Discharges BSA Smith Street Drain RTC Project

The Buffalo Sewer Authority is implementing a Long Term Control Plan to reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges and improve receiving waterbody water quality. The plan includes the use of Real Time Control (RTC) technology, wherein existing piping is used to retain high flows and optimize use of available storage volumes within the sewer system. After a wet weather event, the stored flow is released and treated at the wastewater treatment plant.This project repurposed a large storm relief sewer that conveys stormwater and combined sewer overflow from 47 sewer patrol points (SPPs). An overflow weir wall was installed in a location with a submerged invert caused by backwater from the Buffalo River. The wall isolated the river waters and created a 2 million gallon [7.6 ML] CSO storage area within the existing sewer. Retained CSO discharges from the SPPs are now redirected into an interceptor for treatment automatically using motorized valves and real time water levels.