Newport project will eliminate 15 million gallons of sewer overflow

About 15 million gallons of annual combined sewer overflow in Northern Kentucky will be eliminated when installation of a new pipe around Newport on the Levee is finished, according to a Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky release.

Construction to install a separate storm sewer pipe through a portion of the earthen levee at the Ohio River is scheduled to finish by April 2021, according to the SD1 release.

The project will reduce flooding during rains and increase sewer capacity in the area, according to the release. The creation of a separate system is expected to help foster development in the area by lessening the stormwater management requirements, according to the release.

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This is the final phase of a project that started in 2018.

The new storm sewer pipe will be installed along Dave Cowens Drive and Washington Avenue.

The cost of the new storm sewer pipe will be $957,054, according to the release.

When work is complete, sanitary and storm sewer pipes will be separated along Washington Avenue to Ninth Street and on Saratoga Street to East Seventh Street.

The combined sewer overflow is typically about 15 million gallons a year in the overall project area.

SD1 is working towards its program Clean H2O40 goal of recapturing 85 percent the typical year's combined sewer overflow volume across Northern Kentucky by 2040.

“This separation project is another example of SD1’s commitment to maximizing the impact of our work in Northern Kentucky,” said SD1 Executive Director Adam Chaney in the release. “While accomplishing our Clean H2O40 goals is important, we also regularly look for opportunities to reduce flooding and backups and promote growth and development. This project checks all of those boxes.”