Initial CSO Efforts (Prior to 1988)

Louisville, as with many other cities with combined systems, followed standard procedures for maintaining Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). This consisted of clearing blockages, performing periodic inspections, cleaning catch basins and making sure that mechanical components (i.e. regulators and flap gates) were working properly. These outfalls were considered to be negative issues only in very visible and populated locations. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, extensive regulator and overflow maintenance programs were in place to insure proper operation and a basic inventory was maintained, describing each facility. The CSO program was established in the late 1980's under the management of the Infrastructure Department within the Engineering Division. The initial activities consisted of physical inspection and field walks of the major sewers and a more extensive inventory of the diversion and overflow structures. While many of the system maintenance activities might today coincide with the Nine Minimum Controls, the CSO program did not exist as a separate program during this timeframe.

Related Links

1988 to 1997 CSO Program Efforts
1998 to 2002 CSO Program Efforts
2002 to July 2003 Holistic Watershed Approach

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