MSD News

While MSD recently announced a $20 million repair to one of Louisville’s largest sewer lines under Main Street at risk of a cave-in, our crews serve thousands of smaller work orders per year across the community for other sewer cave-ins that often go unnoticed.

Local utilities announce Ohio River cleanup event

Volunteers will team up for up for annual effort to clear riverbank of trash

What: Ohio River Sweep Press Conference

When: Thursday, June 14, 10 a.m.

Where: Carrie Gaulbert Cox Park, 3730 River Road

Who: MSD, Louisville Water Company and Louisville Gas and Electric Company

Event Information

LOUISVILLE, KY — Sewer line work will begin in the intersection of Lexington Road and Baxter Avenue on Monday, June 11 after morning rush hour (approximately 10 AM).

NAME: 

Jacob L. Mathis, P.E. 

TITLE: 

Engineer II 

PROJECT: 

Waterway Protection Tunnel 

EDUCATION: 

Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering 

Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) 

EXPERIENCE: 

Louisville MSD 

Jacob, Toombs and Lanz Inc. 

Mindel Scott & Associates, Inc 

HOW HE BECAME AN ENGINEER: 

Two ecology classes at Louisville Male High School found a way to combine classwork with helping the environment through the development and installation of a rain garden on the school grounds.

Angela Page is the teacher for the two classes. She reached out to MSD’s Erin Wagoner to speak to the classes about rain gardens.

More than 2 billion gallons of rainwater and wastewater overflow into local waterways each year. Thankfully, construction is underway on MSD’s $200 million Waterway Protection Tunnel that is designed to mitigate this problem.

The tunnel – planned for completion in 2020 – is an innovative way to store this overflow of rainwater and wastewater underground until it can be pumped to MSD’s Morris Forman Water Quality Treatment Center. It will be able to store up to 37 million gallons of combined rainwater and wastewater when complete.

In 25 years – through everything from flooded basements to a flooded city – Barbara Roberson has seen it all. Or at least, she’s heard about it. As an MSD Customer Relations Specialist, Roberson is often the first point of contact for customers in crisis, who call MSD with issues ranging from drainage problems to flooded basements.

“The Customer Relations department is vital because as the first point of contact, customers expect us to be the resource to resolve their problems,” she said.

"Trash Island."

At Beargrass Flood Pumping Station, it's the collection of detritus that has gathered in the aftermath of the area's flooding: tires, coolers, empty two-liter bottles, a door, even a Valentine Day's balloon. The decision was made to leave the large amount of trash at the pump station until floodwaters recede because the debris ultimately began to function as an additional filter for the mechanical components of the station. The “trash island” eventually will have to be removed by a crane.

Safely cleaning up after a flood

Take photographs of the damage before cleanup. Residents are encouraged to begin cleanup as soon as possible, floodplain permits are not required before cleanup begins.

Flood cleanup safety tips:

Before entering your home, check for damaged power lines, gas lines, foundation cracks and

other exterior damage. It may be too dangerous to enter the home.

If you smell natural gas or propane, or hear a hissing noise, leave immediately and contact the fire department