8th Street, Northup, and Splitlog Parks Stormwater Project

Like many cities and municipalities, UG’s water and sewer system was not built for the current capacity. Older wastewater pipes — those that take wastewater from homes and businesses to the treatment plant before depositing it back into rivers — were originally combined with stormwater pipes.

When it rains, stormwater mixes with wastewater and overwhelms the existing system, creating combined sewer overflow. When CSO spills into our environment before it can reach the treatment plant, it creates water pollution and health concerns. Check out the diagrams below for a visual representation:

Current Sewer During Wet Weather


Current Sewer During Wet Weather


Separated Sewer During Wet Weather

These projects are part of a broader initiative mandated by the UG’s Consent Decree with the EPA and the DOJ. 

The agreement requires the UG to further reduce sewer overflows over a period of 25 years. Without a consent decree, the UG would have to pay large fines and penalties and still be responsible for repairing and upgrading the sewer system to reduce sewer overflows. Sewer overflows are a release of sewage (wastewater) into the environment.

This consent decree, part of compliance with the Clean Water Act of 1972, aims to mitigate sewer overflows into local waterways, including Jersey Creek, by separating combined sewer systems.

This project is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These funds must be allocated for Consent Decree projects by December 31, 2024. If not, the federal government will retract the funds because they will expire.

Green infrastructure is functional infrastructure that captures and filters stormwater where it falls. It decreases the amount of stormwater getting into the sewer system, improves water quality, and creates a healthier community.

Green Infrastructure

This illustration shows the concept of green infrastructure for stormwater management. A house is depicted with underground pipes leading to a storm drain and a green infrastructure area. The green infrastructure area features trees and plants which help absorb rainwater, reducing runoff into the storm drain.

The project must be bid for construction by December 31, 2024, with an anticipated start of construction in early 2025.

The project timeline graphic outlines the planned stormwater management improvements. The timeline begins with the "Existing Conditions Analysis and Stormwater Monitoring" phase in early 2023. It then progresses to the "Draft Initial Design Concepts" phase in late 2023. By summer 2024, the project team will "Receive Public Feedback on Design Concepts." In fall 2024, they will "Finalize Design and Present Results to the Community." The project will be "Bid for Construction" in December 2024, and the timeline concludes with the "Construction" phase in 2025.

While fulfilling the County’s federal obligation to the Consent Decree, the UG’s Public Works department is coordinating with other City departments, such as Planning and Parks & Recreation, to maximize the community benefit of this major infrastructure investment.

Lear more about Stormwater Runoff Management here.

In case you missed it, there’s still time to provide comments and share your thoughts:

• If you were unable to attend the public meeting, complete the survey below to provide your feedback about potential park amenities for Eighth Street, Northrup and Splitlog Parks.
• If you attended the in-person public meeting on June 22, your feedback has already been recorded. Please do not take the survey again.

Don’t delay! The survey is open until 11:59 PM on Friday, July 12, 2024. Your input will help shape the future of Eighth Street, Northrup, and Splitlog Parks. Click here to take the survey.