Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure solutions are being pursued by the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) to help reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) issues in the city. In 2005, MSD, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection entered into a Consent Decree to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows and reduce the volume and frequency of CSOs. This agreement was amended in 2009 and, in response, MSD prepared a plan for reduction and elimination of overflows. The plan includes adaptive management techniques that would allow MSD to utilize green infrastructure, or natural solutions such as vegetated roofs, in-ground storage, rain gardens and pervious pavement, to accomplish the same level of control for sewer overflow reduction.
MSD needs citizen support to help reduce CSOs. Here are a few resources:
- How to construct a rain barrel
- How to install a rain barrel
- How to disconnect a downspout
- How to build a rain garden
The Office of Sustainability offers Green Infrastructure Incentives. Learn more.
