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.