Learn About Combined Sewer Overflow
In older cities such as Springfield, wastewater collection (or sewer) systems were originally constructed a century ago to collect and transport wastewater (sewage) and stormwater together in one pipe. There are approximately 150 miles of combined sewer pipes in Springfield, mostly in older neighborhoods such as McKnight, Old Hill, and Upper Hill.
The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission owns and maintains these underground combined sewer pipes, as well as all other sewer mains throughout Springfield. The City of Springfield DPW owns and maintains the stormwater system. This includes the storm drains/grates on the streets and the lateral pipes that convey stormwater from the street into the combined sewer mains and regular stormwater pipes.
Public Information
A combined sewer overflow (CSO) is the discharge from a combined sewer system that is caused by snowmelt or stormwater runoff. Combined Sewers are sewer systems that collect stormwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe and bring it to the wastewater treatment facility. They are designed to overflow during wet weather.
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Impact
Discharges from CSO outfalls may contain mixtures of domestic sewage, stormwater runoff, and sometimes, and industrial wastewater. Avoid contact within affected waterbodies for 48 hours after an active CSO.
Control of Soild and Floatable Material
The primary methods of controlling solids and floatables include routine street cleaning, catch basin cleaning, recycling to eliminate litter, and sediment and erosion control requirements during construction activities. These activities are undertaken by the City of Springfield.
The Commission’s has installed and maintains floatables control baffles at each CSO regulator structure. These baffles are designed to keep floatables in the collection system and prevents them from discharging from the CSO structure.
CSO Long Term Control Plan
CSO Long Term Control Plan Part 1
CSO Long Term Control Plan Part 2
Data Archive
CSO Monthly Data 2019 – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
CSO Monthly Data 2020 – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
CSO Monthly Data 2021 – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
CSO Monthly Data 2022 – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
CSO Monthly Data 2023 – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
CSO Monthly Data 2024 – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
CSO Monthly Data 2025 – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep