Blueprint Columbus: Leveraging Consent Order Commitments to Enhance Neighborhoods

The City of Columbus entered into two consent orders with the Ohio EPA to address sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The City of Columbus submitted the Wet Weather Management Plan (WWMP) in 2005 to address the consent orders. The WWMP was approved by the Ohio EPA in 2009. The WWMP included construction of tunnels and wastewater treatment plant expansion. The USEPA integrated planning guidance lead the City of Columbusto consider incorporating stormwater and green infrastructure into the WWMP. The Ohio EPA agreed and investigation intothe Blueprint idea began. The idea of Blueprint explores options to eliminate infiltration and inflow (I/I) into the sewer system, and redirecting roof drainage to green infrastructure for treatment.