The City of Columbus plans to improve the primary treatment system at its Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant (JPWWTP). This project will update equipment to manage “skimmings,” materials that float on top of the raw wastewater and are removed by mechanically skimming the water surface. Columbus has requested $4,100,000 from the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) to finance this project. The WPCLF requires the City to seek public comments on the proposed project.

On Friday, December 7, 2007, The Division of Power and Water within the Department of Public Utilities issued a precautionary Boil Water Advisory for residents and businesses in a protion of the Polaris area.  After sampling and testing the water from this area, no contamination has been found.  The Boil Water Advisory is now cancelled and no longer necessary. 

Project part of a $346 million site upgrade and $2.5 billion Wet Weather Management Plan to protect local rivers

The City of Columbus’ $106 million investment in Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant’s new Headworks Facility will boost treatment capacity 50%, cutting sewer overflows and basement backups and improving the quality of area rivers and streams. On December 17, Mayor Michael B. Coleman and City Council Members cut the ribbon to dedicate the new Headworks, the
first phase of construction of approximately $346 million in improvements planned for Southerly, and part of $2.5 billion in EPA mandated projects in the Wet Weather Management Plan.

Mayor Coleman approved $295,000 from the Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund in November 2006 to replace and upgrade streetlights in the area bounded by Woodruff Avenue on the north, Chittenden Avenue on the south, Summit Street on the east and North High Street on the west. The Mayor and City Council agreed to fund the remainder of the project through the 2007 Capital Budget. USG leaders worked with the City to identify streets as top priorities for new and upgraded decorative street lights.

Every day the City of Columbus serves the water needs of one million customers throughout central Ohio, and while local reservoirs are currently nearly full, it is always good to conserve water during dry periods. There is currently no significant rain in local forecasts, so the Columbus Department of Public Utilities is asking residents to monitor their personal water usage and conserve where possible.

The City of Columbus plans to invest nearly $900,000 to replace damaged fire hydrants through 2008 to keep neighborhoods safe. Mayor Michael B. Coleman has forwarded legislation to Columbus City Council for First Reading tonight, as part of the Department of Public Utilities’ on-going effort to repair and replace damaged hydrants.

Installation of 150 New Streetlights Starts Monday Temporary Parking Restrictions in Place as Work Is Done

Last year, Mayor Michael B. Coleman committed to invest nearly $1 million for 150 new streetlights to the campus area after hearing concerns from Ohio State University’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG). Beginning Monday, September 24, installation of the lights will begin, with completion of the project scheduled for July 2008.

Street light installation will begin on 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th Avenues and temporary parking restrictions will be in place as the work is done on each street.

With careers with the City of Columbus possibly in their futures, seven college students are completing summer internships with local engineering firms that are working on Department of Public Utilities projects. The engineering internships were sponsored by the Department’s Professional Program Management (PPM) Project. Five of the students attend The Ohio State University, one Ohio Dominican University and one the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the Department of Public Utilities is proposing the investment of $4.7 million to improve sanitary sewers in three neighborhoods through a trio of projects going to City Council tonight.

All three projects are related to the City’s Wet Weather Management Plan (WWMP), a 40-year, $2.5 billion effort that will bring Columbus into compliance with two Consent Orders signed with the State of Ohio to reduce sewer overflows during some heavy rains. A 2002 Consent Order regarded sanitary sewer overflows; a 2004 Consent Order pertained to combined sewer overflows. The Department of Public Utilities submitted the WWMP to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in July 2005. The project will result in cleaner waterways and fewer basement backups.

Residents in a southeast Columbus neighborhood will have improved, more dependable water service following work to be completed in beginning late Wednesday night, August 22.
The improvements will be made overnight, beginning Wednesday at 11 p.m. and are expected to be completed Thursday at 5 a.m., minimizing inconvenience to water customers in the area. About 2,000 water customers will experience temporary interruption of water service while the repairs are being made overnight.

For Immediate Release July 24, 2007 City and OSU Studying Ways to Get Green with Sludge Study to Research Environmentally Responsible Alternatives to Disposal of Wastewater Treatment Sludge (Columbus) Continuing the Citys commitment to Get Green, the Department of Public Utilities is partnering up with The Ohio State U

The Division of Power and Water within the Columbus Department of Public Utilities advises customers of a temporary loss of water service early this morning after a motorist struck a fire hydrant on Old State Road.

As a precautionary measure, those who experienced a temporary loss of water service are advised to boil all water used for cooking and drinking for one (1) minute until further notice.

Glick Road Bridge at the City of Columbus’ O’Shaughnessy Dam will be closed June 18 through July 1, for dam improvements. Electronic message boards alerting motorists to the temporary closure have been set up. Additional closures of sidewalks and bike lanes on the bridge during the work will occur for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. The bridge is scheduled to reopen July 2.

Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the Department of Public Utilities is proposing the investment of $11.3 million to improve sanitary sewers and upgrade water lines in neighborhoods through six projects going to City Council tonight.

Construction of five sanitary sewer projects and one water line improvements project would result if City Council approves the package. The projects continue Columbus’ push to improve sewer treatment, protect rivers and streams and ensure the highest quality drinking water through the Wet Water Management Plan and other initiatives.

Beginning June 11, 2007 through July 22, 2007, Columbus firefighters will continue their annual hydrant-flushing program, Fire Chief Ned Pettus, Jr., announced today. Hydrant flushings will be performed seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can
call the Hydrant Hot Line at 645-4055 daily after 9 a.m. to activate a recorded message that lists specific areas scheduled for that day's flushing program.

For immediate release May 30, 2007 City of Columbus Drinking Water Quality Meets or Exceeds State and Federal Standards— Annual Report Released To Water Customers (Columbus) – The City of Columbus annual report on its drinking water shows the water pumped to some one million customers again meets or surpasses all requi

Briggs High students and neighborhood residents now can enjoy a safer walk to school and less flooding thanks to a $6.67 million dollar investment in new sidewalks and storm sewers. The City’s Capital project is wrapping up now, and Mayor Michael B. Coleman joined Briggs HS Principal Kurt Yancey, students and residents today to celebrate the end of construction.

Schools, families, churches, neighborhood groups and local businesses will be asked by Mayor Michael B. Coleman to join the Get Green team and “hit the streams” by volunteering to clean up trash during Central Ohio River Pride Month in May. The annual spring waterways cleanup, sponsored by the Department of Public Utilities, removes tons of trash and litter from river and stream banks after the winter thaw. The litter can hurt water quality, endanger wildlife and provide a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes.

Areas served all or in part by the City of Columbus Dublin Road Water Plant, which recently experienced higher than allowable turbidity levels. Water plant operators continuously monitor our water for turbidity which is a measure of cloudiness. The turbidity level tells us how effectively the water supply is being filtered. 

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) required us to notify all customers within 30 days of this event.  You do NOT need to boil the water or take other actions. We do not know of any contamination, and none of our testing has shown any disease-causing organisms in the drinking water.

Columbus residents saw a decrease in basement backups and sewer overflows in 2006, thanks to Department of Public Utilities projects and programs. The results are contained in the 2006 City of Columbus Sanitary Sewer Overflow and Water in Basement Report, which was recently completed and submitted to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). OEPA regulations require the report to be filed annually with the agency.

The Boil Advisory for water customers in the Dublin Road Water Treatment Plant service area has been cancelled.  The Boil Advisory was issued Tuesday after water at the Dublin Road Plant showed higher turbidity, or cloudiness, as a result of recent heavy rains and the melting of snow.

The Columbus Department of Public Utilities tests on water at the plant have not shown any diseasecausing organisms in the drinking water. Under the Boil Advisory, people with severely compromised immune systems, infants and some elderly people were advised to boil water for 60 seconds prior to use for drinking or cooking, or use bottled water. Those same populations no longer need to boil their water with the cancellation of the advisory.

For immediate release Contact: Rick Tilton, 645-6622 March 6, 2007

The water from the Dublin Road Water Treatment Plant has higher turbidity, or cloudiness, as a result of recent heavy rains and the melting of snow. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (O.E.P.A.) guidance indicates the boiling of water is not required, and other actions are not needed. The Columbus Department of Public Utilities does not know of any contamination, and none of the Department’s testing has shown disease-causing organisms in the drinking water. However, as turbidity may indicate the presence of such organisms, people with severely compromised immune systems, infants and some elderly people may be at increased risk. These people should boil their water or use bottled water for the next 48 hours.

As more than 30 employees from the Department of Public Utilities continue to work clearing ice and snow from catch basins, Mayor Michael B. Coleman is again asking residents to step up and do their part. Residents can help prevent flooding in their neighborhood by moving melting snow and ice from catch basins on their street as temperatures rise again this week.

Churches, area commissions, civic associations and other neighborhood groups can band together to clear catch basins in their areas to allow the melting snow and ice to flow into storm sewers. Residents should shovel the snow and ice into the sewer and onto the curb, but away from sidewalks. Heat within the sewer will melt the ice.

The City of Columbus plans to increase funding for fire hydrant repair and replacement in 2007 to help make neighborhoods safer across the City. City Council will consider legislation Monday, February 5, to supplement the Department of Public Utilities’ increased hydrant funding with a contract for the repair of an additional 300 hydrants this year.

The City of Columbus and the Driving Park neighborhood will join in a pilot project that will create cleaner waterways and reduce basement backups in the Driving Park area. City Council will consider an ordinance on January 29, from the Department of Public Utilities that will create the Downspout Elimination Pilot Project, which will reduce the amount of stormwater entering the sanitary sewers in the project area. During periods of heavy rain, excess water overwhelms the sanitary sewer system contributing to sanitary system overflows and basement backups.