The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy (59 FR 18688) is the national framework for control of CSOs. The policy provides guidance on how communities with Combined Sewer System’s can meet Clean Water Act (CWA) goals in as flexible and cost-effective a manner as possible.

CSO’s occur when the capacity of the sewer system and treatment plant are exceeded due to rainfall or snow melt. When this occurs, an excess mixture of storm water and wastewater may be discharged to the St. Joe River through combine sewer overflows. The greatest impact of discharges from CSOs is associated with bacteria in the untreated sewage and storm water run-off. Bacteria levels in the river can rise for several days following a CSO discharge.

Interested persons may request notification when CSOs are discharging by signing up for Alert 86 by clicking the button below: