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CSO Abatement History

The Metropolitan District’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) reduction efforts date back to the 1950s.  Consisting mainly of sewer separation projects, previous improvements were dedicated to the elimination of sewer overflows as well as the replacement of older combined sewers in specific areas of Hartford.  In 1961, the District passed an ordinance to promote the use of separated sewers by requiring all new structures to provide separate sewer laterals for domestic sewage and roof and foundation drains.

schematic view of a typical separated sewer system

In the 1970s, the District initiated an aggressive sewer separation program to minimize the impact of CSOs on the environment and local communities.  By 1979, the District had already invested approximately $13 million on various sewer separation projects to alleviate chronically flooded areas of the city.  However, due to high construction costs associated with full sewer separation, this program was temporarily halted in 1979 so that the District could evaluate alternative CSO abatement measures.  Although the sewer separation program had been postponed during this period, the District still maintained activity to address public health and safety needs.

In response to a December 22, 1979 Administrative Order from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the District prepared a summary report entitled, "System Facilities and Analysis of the Combined Sewer Overflows in Hartford, Connecticut," to address the initial phase of the facilities plan that was completed and submitted to the DEP in 1984.  A modified Order was issued on February 26, 1988, requiring the District to supplement initial planning efforts required under the 1979 Order.    By 1990, the District had completed all modified Order requirements and submitted a final facilities plan entitled, “Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities Plan, Final Report,” which was used to support the initial phase of the District’s CSO Abatement Program, also known as Phase I of the Connecticut River Cleanup Program.


 Go to Estimated CSO Study and Construction Costs