Community Update: October 29, 2024
Recently, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made national headlines with its announcement that it is requiring the replacement of all lead and galvanized water service lines across the United States. This week, the Lakewood Public Works Department sent out notification letters to affected property owners with the language provided by EPA.
What do I need to do if I received a letter?
If you received a letter, no immediate replacement is required. This letter is simply to inform you of your property’s service line material. Ultimately, the service line will need to be replaced within the EPA timeline.
If your letter indicates that your service line material is Unknown, we ask that you please use the guide below to identify the material and report this information to us by calling (216) 529-6087, as we are required to report this information to EPA each year.
If your service line is made of a material other than what is indicated in the notification letter, we ask you to please provide this information to us by calling (216) 529-6087.
What is the City of Lakewood Doing?
Prior to the recent EPA announcement, the City of Lakewood has been actively implementing its long-term goal of eliminating lead and galvanized service lines in Lakewood over the past five years. This work involves the City installing copper service lines to replace both city-owned lead and private side lead and galvanized service lines when we encounter them during ongoing water main replacements, repairs, and other infrastructure projects. The new EPA mandate is in line with the City’s pre-existing policies, and now puts all water providers nationwide on a clear timeline to complete this work.
Water delivered to Lakewood properties is provided by Cleveland Water, who reports that the water is lead-free when it leaves their treatment plants. In addition, the water treatment process is optimized to minimize any chance of corrosion to pipes and plumbing. Organic phosphates (a food-grade additive) are included with the water and bond with pipes to prevent metal elements from releasing into the water. The City of Lakewood also performs lead-level testing in accordance with state policies to ensure safety, and we report the results in the annual water quality report available on the City of Lakewood’s website.
The City of Lakewood is encouraged by the new EPA announcement and the energy it provides to address water service lines nationwide. The City is actively working on an implementation plan to align our pre-existing plan with the EPA regulation and 10-year timeline. There will be more information on that plan in the future.
Community Update: February 16, 2023
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, city leaders held a Clean Water Lakewood community meeting. At this meeting, city leaders discussed the status of the EPA consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice. They also shared updates on the progress of the Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan (IWWIP) and the Interceptor Tunnel Rehabilitation Project.
View the recording of this meeting below:
Community Update: February 1, 2023
Clean Water Lakewood Update
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
7:00 PM
Lakewood City Hall
Join us for an update on Clean Water Lakewood, our city’s plan to improve and update our 100-year-old sewer system. On February 15, 2023, at 7 p.m. city leaders will host a public community meeting to discuss the status of the EPA consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice. We will also share updates on the progress of the Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan (IWWIP) and the Interceptor Tunnel Rehabilitation Project.
Click here to watch a livestream of the Clean Water Lakewood Update.
Community Update: October 4, 2022
On September 19, 2022, Mayor George introduced a resolution to City Council authorizing the Mayor to enter into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice. This consent decree is consistent with the approved Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan (IWWIP) that was adopted by the city in 2019. Click here to view the Mayor’s introduction letter and resolution.
On September 26, 2022, City Council held a Committee of the Whole meeting. During that meeting, the administration gave a presentation and update to council regarding the consent decree. View that meeting below:
On October 3, 2022, City Council unanimously passed the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into the consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice. View the discussion and passage of the resolution here:
Click here to view the signed consent decree resolution.
Click here to view the Interim Partial Consent Decree.
Community Update: December 13, 2021
On January 1, 2022, the City will implement an Impervious Surface Fee to help us recover the costs of these wet weather infrastructure improvements in a way that is more directly tied to the demand customers place on this infrastructure.
FEE DETERMINATION:
The Impervious Surface Fee will be a uniform $2 per month for residential properties (1-3 family units or townhouses).
For multifamily, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties the fee will be based on the amount of paved and hard surfaces, such as parking lots and roofs, that are on the property and will be charged at $2 per ERU or 2,800 square feet (Lakewood’s Equivalent Residential Unit – ERU) of impervious area. This fee structure reflects the fact that impervious surfaces place more of a demand on the City’s wet weather infrastructure. To determine your properties ERUs, click here to view our interactive map.
The Impervious Surface Fee will be placed on your water bill as a separate line item.
BACKGROUND:
Impervious surfaces are the hard surfaces on a property like pavements and roofs. These surfaces cause rainwater and snowmelt to run off the property into the City’s storm drains. During large storms, this water can overwhelm the City’s combined and sewer system that makes up our wet weather infrastructure and causes pollution to run into Lake Erie and the Rocky River.
Community Update: August 6, 2021
On July 19, 2021, City Council approved an ordinance and resolution related to Lakewood’s need to invest in about $300 million in infrastructure projects needed to meet Ohio EPA and US EPA regulatory requirements. This action allows the use of American Rescue Plan Act funding and a new Impervious Surface Fee to help fund a modern sewer system that better protects Rocky River and Lake Erie from pollution while keeping water bills affordable.
The changes will help modernize the city’s rate structure by providing a system of proportionate charges for water and sewer service use, but and also sets up a more stable mechanism to pay for system improvements.
For residential customers, the Impervious Surface Fee will be a $2 monthly charge on the water bill that will begin on Jan. 1, 2022. The fee is the result of a recent review of options to modernize the city’s water and sewer infrastructure rate structure while supporting long-term affordability. The fee will be accompanied by a decrease to the previously approved water and sewer rate increases. This decrease is possible because City Council has dedicated $25 million of Lakewood’s $47 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) award toward water and sewer infrastructure—essentially lessening the cost to the City’s customers.
Commercial, institutional, industrial, and large multifamily customers will also see an Impervious Surface Fee on their bills beginning Jan. 1, 2022 . Their fee will be based on the amount of paved and hard surfaces, such as parking lots and roofs, that are on the property. This fee structure reflects the fact that impervious surfaces such as this place more of a demand on the City’s wet weather infrastructure because water that runs off these surfaces must be captured and treated.
Click here to read the FAQs related to the Impervious Surface Fee.
Community Update June 18, 2021
Below is the video from the Clean Water Lakewood virtual event held on June 16, 2021.
Clean Water Lakewood Update
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
7:00 PM
Virtual Event
Join us for an update on Clean Water Lakewood, our city’s plan to improve and update our 100-year-old sewer system. On June 16, 2021 at 7 p.m. city leaders will host a virtual community conversation to show you our progress toward meeting Ohio EPA and US EPA regulatory requirements. We’ll also discuss how we can use American Rescue Plan Act funding and a new proposed Impervious Surface Fee to help fund a modern sewer system that better protects Rocky River and Lake Erie from pollution while keeping water bills affordable.
Click here to view the water bill insert sent to all customers.
Frequently Asked Questions about the proposed Impervious Surface
Lakewood is confronting the challenge of updating its unique, 100-year-old sewer system to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act through active enforcement by Ohio EPA and US EPA. The Clean Water Act of 1972 established the basic structure for the regulation of discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and set quality standards for surface waters.
Why is a law enacted in 1972 just now being actively enforced in Lakewood in 2018? The answer is that, despite Lakewood’s continued progress, the enforcement has been winding its way across the country from big cities to mid and small cities. We follow on the heels of Cleveland, Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Mansfield, Lima, Youngstown, etc. We are Ohio’s 15th largest city. It is now our turn.
To find out more about Lakewood’s compliance with the Clean Water Act and read the March 16, 2020 Mayor’s Letter to City Council.
Community Update May 28, 2021
Clean Water Lakewood Update
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
7:00 PM
Virtual Event (details regarding log-in will be posted closer to the event date)
Join us for an update on Clean Water Lakewood, our city’s plan to improve and update our 100-year-old sewer system. On June 16, 2021 at 7 p.m. city leaders will host a virtual community conversation to show you our progress toward meeting Ohio EPA and US EPA regulatory requirements. We’ll also discuss how we can use American Rescue Plan Act funding and a new proposed Impervious Surface Fee to help fund a modern sewer system that better protects Rocky River and Lake Erie from pollution while keeping water bills affordable.
Click here to view the water bill insert sent to all customers.
Frequently Asked Questions about the proposed Impervious Surface Fee
Community Update February 16, 2021
On February 16, 2021, the George Administration provided an update to Lakewood City Council about the City’s Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan (IWWIP). The video is this update is provided below.
Click here to view Mayor George’s letter to City Council regarding the IWWIP update.
Community Update January 17, 2019
Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to the public meetings about Clean Water Lakewood. Over the next month the team will be busy preparing the document to submit to the EPA from the input received during these sessions. If you weren’t able to make it, photos and presentations from the events are provided below.
December 4, 2018 Community Meeting on the Clean Water Act: The Road Ahead for Lakewood
The presentation given during this event is provided below as well as the handout:
January 16, 2019 Community Open House on the Clean Water Act: The Road Ahead for Lakewood
The boards presented during the open house are provided at the link below:
Wondering what type of sewer and what outfall your property is connected to? Check out this interactive map by clicking here!
Congratulations to our Open House raffle winners:
Rain Barrels
David Maniet
Gerri Butler
Tree Plantings
Kathy George
Bill Dorsch
Community Update November 15, 2018
A second Clean Water Lakewood Workshop was held on Thursday, November 15, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Lakewood Woman’s Club Pavilion.
Below is a summary of the discussions and the data collected from the evening of round table discussions and voting:
Agenda
Summary
Appendix of Table Comments
Community Update October 30, 2018
Last week, the following newsletter was mailed out to every resident and business in the City of Lakewood. The newsletter focuses on the challenges for Lakewood to comply with the Clean Water
Act of 1972. Click here to read the newsletter.
Community Update October 29, 2018
On Monday, October 29, Lakewood City Council held a Committee of the Whole meeting to to discuss Clean Water Act Compliance.
Click here to view the video of that meeting.
Community Update October 23, 2018
A Clean Water Lakewood Workshop was held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Lakewood City Hall. Below are the materials and video from that meeting.
Clean Water Lakewood Workshop Agenda – 10/23/18
Clean Water Lakewood Workshop Presentations – 10/23/18
Final Questions and Answers from October 23 Workshop
Letter to Council regarding Compliance with Clean Water Act – 10/1/18
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Interim Partial Consent Decree+-
Click here to view the Interim Partial Consent Decree.
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Semi-Annual Reports+-
DH#90-5-1-108725_1 (City of Lakewood, OH 0026018) – Semi-Annual Report 01 31 2024 has been posted in accordance with the Consent Decree in United States and State of Ohio v. City of Lakewood. DH#90-5-1-108725_1 (City of Lakewood, OH 0026018) – Semi-Annual Report 01 31 2024 may not have been reviewed or verified by EPA prior to posting. If you have any questions about the information in the DH#90-5-1-108725_1 (City of Lakewood, OH 0026018) – Semi-Annual Report 01 31 2024, how it was collected, or what it means, please contact Lakewood Public Works Director at (216) 529-6812.
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Glenbury/Mars/Marlowe Infrastructure Improvements+-
Click here to view the Glenbury/Mars/Marlowe Infrastructure Improvements page.
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Lewis Drive Sewer Improvement Project+-
Click here to view the Lewis Drive Sewer Improvement Project page.
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Elmwood/Reveley/Parkwood Infrastructure Improvements+-
Click here to view the Elmwood/Reveley/Parkwood Infrastructure Improvements page.
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Andrews and Gladys Infrastructure Improvements+-
Click here to view the Andrews and Gladys Infrastructure Improvements page.
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Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan - Phase Two+-
Chapter 10 of Lakewood’s IWWIP Phase 2
Chapter 10 of Lakewood’s IWWIP Phase 2 has been posted in accordance with the Consent Decree in United States and State of Ohio v. City of Lakewood. Chapter 10 of Lakewood’s IWWIP Phase 2 may not have been reviewed or verified by EPA prior to posting. If you have any questions about the information in the Chapter 10 of Lakewood’s IWWIP Phase 2, how it was collected, or what it means, please contact Lakewood Public Works Director at (216) 529-6800.The updated Chapter 10 of Lakewood’s IWWIP Phase 2 was a part of City Council’s resolution approving the Consent Decree and it is to ensure information regarding the IWWIP is available to the public.
Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan-Phase 2 (Updated Chapter 10)
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Community Newsletter+-
In October of 2018, the following newsletter was mailed out to every resident and business in the City of Lakewood. The newsletter focuses on the challenges for Lakewood to comply with the Clean Water Act of 1972.
Click here to read the newsletter.
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Clean Water Lakewood+-
Purpose: Clean Water Lakewood is a program aiming to better manage our combined sewer overflows and protect our natural resources meeting the requirements of the Clear Water Act.
Brief description of challenge:
Lakewood is working on a plan to reduce our combined sewer overflows into Lake Erie.
Our 100 year old sewer system combines sanitary sewage and storm water. When it rains, when snow melts, and when water is flowing off of impermeable surfaces such as roofs and streets, excess flow of combined stormwater and wastewater discharge into Lake Erie or Rocky River. Under dry conditions all wastewater is treated.
As with the original investments in the City, Lakewood must invest in infrastructure so that it meets the demands of Lakewood’s second century, under the law and for the benefit of human and environmental health.
The Clean Water Lakewood task force is a group of Lakewood residents and business owners assembled to help identify the best paths forward for water infrastructure in Lakewood. This group is focusing on facilitating best solutions for controlling sewage overflows.
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Interceptor Tunnel Improvement Project+-
Click here to view the Interceptor Tunnel Improvement Project web page.
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What are Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) and other definitions+-
What are Combined Sewers?
Combined sewer systems are sewers that are designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe. Most of the time, combined sewer systems transport all of their wastewater to a sewage treatment plant, where it is treated and then discharged to a water body. During periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, however, the wastewater volume in a combined sewer system can exceed the capacity of the sewer system or treatment plant. For this reason, combined sewer systems are designed to overflow occasionally and discharge excess wastewater directly to nearby streams, rivers, or other water bodies.
These overflows, called combined sewer overflows (CSOs), contain not only stormwater but also untreated human and industrial waste, toxic materials, and debris. They are a significant water pollution concern for the approximately 772 cities in the U.S. that have combined sewer systems (EPA, 2014).
With the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, such overflows must be controlled in order to make public waters fishable and swimmable.
US EPA and Ohio EPA are requiring that Lakewood remove millions of gallons of combined sewer overflow that happens every year.
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CSO Alerts & Status+-
Click here for information about CSO Alerts & Status.
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Summary of Ohio EPA (NPDES) permit requirement+-
- Characterize the system
- Monitor and record all overflows
- Create an integrated plan that addresses overflows from combined sewers and interconnected pipes
- Install high rate treatment at the sewage treatment plant to expand treatment of wet weather flows
- Analyze alternatives that can bring overflows into compliance
- Bring all overflow discharges into compliance with the Clean Water Act to minimize human and environmental health impacts
To see the full Lakewood NPDES permit, click here.
Ohio EPA Permit Deadlines
Deadline Ohio EPA Requirement September 2014 New NPDES Permit Issued September 2016 Design specifications of High Rate Treatment (HRT) due to Ohio EPA, as well as feasible alternatives plan created March 2018 Submit a permit to install HRT plan, and any other measure decided on, and begin construction within 6 months of permit being approved March 2019 Alternatives analysis and plan, including financials, for dealing with other overflows September 2022 Construction of HRT is complete -
Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan (IWWIP) - Phase One+-
Click here to read a summary of the phase 1 IWWIP presented to City Council
Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan
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Challenges and Goals+-
When our City’s sewers were built in the early 1900s, investments were made using state of the art approaches to address the flooding and public health requirements for the City. This system includes in many locations a single pipe that carries combined wastewater and stormwater, often intermingled with other two-pipe systems for sanitary and storm water. These pipes were later connected together through interceptors and eventually connected to a wastewater treatment plant.
Under dry conditions, all of the wastewater is treated by Lakewood’s Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and then it is discharged into Lake Erie. When it rains, when snow melts, and when water is flowing off of impermeable surfaces such as roofs, foundation drains, and streets, excess flow of combined stormwater and wastewater discharge into Lake Erie or Rocky River.
Combined sewer systems are found throughout many older communities across the States. With the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, such overflows and other discharges must be controlled or eliminated in order to make water fishable and swimmable, among other uses.
To resolve this waste overflow problem, US EPA and Ohio EPA have mandated that Lakewood capture, treat or remove the millions of gallons of overflow that happens every year. As with the original investments in the City, Lakewood must invest in infrastructure so that it meets the demands of Lakewood’s second century, under the law and for the benefit of human and environmental health.
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In the news+-
- Lakewood Launches Pilot Study to Reduce Wastewater Overflows
- A New Playground in the Bronx Soaks Up the City’s Problematic Storm Water
- Toxic Tour of Lake Erie Bolsters Coalition’s Call for Cleanup
- New Study Begins at Waste Water Treatment Plant
- Innovative Local Development Leverages EPA’s New Integrated Planning Framework
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Lakewood sewers: In photos+-
The “Five Mile Crib” in Lake Erie, our source of drinking water. Photo provided by Cleveland State University’s Special Collections Department.
Building sewers on Clifton Boulevard, 1920’s. Photo provided by Cleveland State University’s Special Collections Department.
Belle Avenue during spring flooding in 1913.
The current Lakewood Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), located at 1699 Metropark Drive, began operating in 1965. It replaced the original plant, which opened in 1903. This turn-of-the-century photo shows early construction of the original plant. Photo provided by Cleveland State University’s Special Collections Department.
Excess water that flows into sewer pipes from groundwater and stormwater is called infiltration and inflow, or I/I. Most I/I is caused by aging infrastructure that needs maintenance or replacement. During a rain event, I&I take up valuable sewer capacity and as a result, the sanitary sewer system may become overloaded and cause overflows or basement flooding.
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Stormwater Education Resources+-
