Send us a text

The newly released 2025 Ohio Infrastructure Report Card delivers a sobering assessment of the systems we rely on daily but rarely think about. Ohio has made modest improvements since the last American Society of Civil Engineers' report in 2021, yet vulnerabilities persist.

Sewer District employees (and ASCE members) Derek Vogel and Lita Laven walk us through the grades and explain how federal infrastructure funding has breathed new life into long-neglected systems, particularly benefiting water, transit, and bridge projects across the state. However, the looming expiration of this funding in 2027 threatens to erase these hard-won gains. And with Ohio's stormwater infrastructure approaching the end of its designed lifespan, we're facing a perfect storm of aging systems and increasingly intense rainfall events.

Check out the complete 2025 Infrastructure Report Card to see how your state's vital systems measure up.

Send us a text

What does sustainability mean for a wastewater utility?

Sustainability Manager Marie Fechik-Kirk shares her thoughts on environmental stewardship at the Sewer District. Under Marie's guidance, the NEORSD has integrated sustainability into its everyday operations and engineering projects.

Listeners will also discover sustainability tips for their own homes to make an environmental impact while helping their budget.

For NEORSD employees:

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at the NEORSD provide a great opportunity for employees to learn new things and network with other employees. Learn more about our Sustainability ERG.

Also, sustainability can be integrated into your work goals. Check out our Sustainability Plan to see how we’ve integrated sustainability into many areas, from Analytical Services to Watersheds Design.

For more information, contact Marie Fechik-Kirk at Fechik-KirkM@neorsd.org

Send us a text

A recent innovation, the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) has transformed from an emergency response to COVID-19 into a comprehensive early warning system for disease outbreaks.

The NWSS monitors approximately 45% of the US population through over 1,400 sampling sites. Public health laboratories can analyze genetic material from the waste stream to detect the presence of pathogens even before clinical symptoms appear in communities.

Despite the inherent complexity of wastewater samples, the process has demonstrated surprising accuracy in predicting disease trends.

Visit cdc.gov/nwss to explore the NWSS dashboard.