The City's Part in Controlling CSOs
Elimination of Combined Sewer Overflows is being accomplished by using a combination of methods:
- Building separate stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.
- Removing stormwater runoff from the sanitary sewer system by redirecting it to a stormwater system.
- Modifying existing collection system facilities to handle this extra water.
- Increasing wastewater collection system capacity by building new pump stations, storage facilities and a CSO treatment plant.
Success to Date
The "Yearly CSO Volume and Precipitation" chart shows the dramatic effect rainfall has on the combined sewer system and the reduction in annual CSO volume as a result of the City’s CSO reduction projects. Unfortunately CSO events continue to occur during heavy rainfall, because we still have too much stormwater entering the sanitary sewer system. The City has several stormwater separation projects to complete, but these will only address stormwater from the publicly owned areas of our City, i.e. the street rights-of-way. More than 60% of all stormwater currently entering the sanitary sewer system is coming from private property and most of this can be easily removed from the system.
To successfully achieve the goal of eliminating CSOs, at a reasonable cost, the City needs you to join the effort to protect our water resources and eliminate CSOs in our community. For more information or to receive a free brochure or video on how to separate your downspouts, please feel free to contact us at 4-R-WATER (479-2837)
Timeline
| Early 1900s | No treatment raw sewage discharged into the bay |
| 1947 | Bremerton begins treatment of wastewater |
| 1972 | Creation of E.P.A. and revised Water Pollution Control Act |
| 1977 | Federal Clean Water Act sets standard |
| 1985 | Upgrade Wastewater Treatment Plant |
| 1987 | E.P.A. prohibits CSOs |
| 1992 | City develops CSO Reduction Plan |
| 1994 | Construction of CSO Reduction Projects begin |
| 1999 | City Council approves Private Separation Ordinance |
| 2000 | Program to assist with private property stormwater separation |
| 2007 | Completion of CSO Construction Projects |
