What is being done to ensure that MSD honors the (limited) terms of the Consent Decree?
MSD has a long history of ignoring sewage-in-basement victims and their role in the destruction of the environment. To help ensure this does not continue the judge appointed an ombudsman to act as the go-between/on-call contact for sewage-in-basement victims. He is paid by MSD, but answers to the court by which he was appointed. Problems with overflows occur across the nation. The EPA estimates, between 23,000 and 75,000 occur each year, spewing 3-10 billion gallons of raw untreated sewage into the environment. Studies show that MSD’s overflow occurrences are 10-14 times higher than the average sewer utility, and 20 times higher than the best. Sierra Club is making all necessary efforts to ensure that MSD does not ignore this problem as they have in the past. Sierra Club is in continual contact with County residents, victims of sewage backups, Jessica Powell (the ombudsman), MSD, and the County Commissioners. Sierra Club also holds a seat on MSD’s Long Term Control Plan Update Steering
