The City of Cleveland Heights Municipal Services and Environmental Sustainability Committee held a meeting on March 9, 2026, to discuss the ongoing federal consent decree related to sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) control and sewer system improvements. The city has been under enforcement by the US EPA since 2007 due to illegal sanitary sewer overflows violating the Clean Water Act. Since 2015, significant progress has been made, with many projects completed ahead of schedule, reducing basement backups and environmental pollution. The committee reviewed the status of the consent decree, including completed and upcoming projects, system cleaning and inspections, and the challenges of addressing common trench sewers and private property inflow. Funding strategies were discussed, highlighting the use of $18 million in ARPA funds and the need for predictable sewer rate increases to sustain long-term infrastructure renewal. The meeting emphasized the importance of public communication to educate residents about the benefits and costs of the sewer system improvements.

Cleveland Heights Municipal Services and Environmental Sustainability Committee March 9, 2026