Our Sanitary sewer system is under stress from issues like increased wet weather events, inflow to the system, and infiltration into the system.

Sanitary sewer systems are designed to carry wastewater from toilets, dishwashers, sinks, or showers in homes or businesses. Inflow and infiltration add clear water from wet weather events to sewer systems, increasing the load on the systems.

Inflow and infiltration (I&I) are terms used to describe the ways that groundwater and stormwater enter into dedicated wastewater or sanitary sewer systems. Inflow and Infiltration water is called "clear water" (although it may be dirty) to distinguish it from normal sanitary sewage water in the sewer system. Clear water belongs in stormwater sewers or on the surface of the ground, and not in the sanitary sewers.

Once the sanitary sewer systems have reached capacity or become overloaded, wastewater (a mixture of sewage diluted with stormwater) overflows into creeks, rivers, lakes, and streams. It contaminates all bodies of water fed by the waterways and all creatures/plants coming in contact with the polluted water, increasing potential health risks. Sewer overflows also contribute to beach advisories and closures due to contamination.

These issues contribute to health concerns in the city, as well as cause stress on Ashland’s aging water infrastructure. Green Infrastructure acts in every aspect of a community to decrease stressful impacts and promote actions that preserve the integrity of the sewer system.