The board of the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) has approved a rate increase that will support public health through infrastructure investments that enhance wastewater management, stormwater drainage and flood protection across the community.

The July 27 board action finalized a 3.9 percent rate increase for residential customers in Jefferson County, which will go into effect on September 1. That matches the lowest rate increase of the last 20 years, as last year’s adjustment was also 3.9 percent.

MSD has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program funding through the Kentucky Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (KYEM/HS) as a sub-recipient. 

A Louisville MSD project to replace an outdated major part of the system protecting the city from flooding hit 75 percent completion in June. Work on the new Paddy’s Run Flood Pump Station began in April 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2027. 

The new Paddy’s Run facility will have more than twice the current station’s ability to pump stormwater out of overflowing inland creeks and into the Ohio River. The building that will hold the pumps has been constructed along with a needed access ramp. It’s located next to the old one where Bells Lane meets the river. 

LOUISVILLE, KY – The board of the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) has approved a preliminary proposal for a measured rate increase to support continued investment in infrastructure that protects public health, waterways, neighborhoods and flood resilience across the community. The fiscal year 2027 proposal includes a 3.9 percent rate increase for Jefferson County customers that would go into effect September 1. 

Revitalization is on the horizon for Mill Creek after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a watershed plan that aims to enhance water quality through collaborative initiatives, community engagement and grant opportunities.  

The plan brings together Louisville MSD, Kentucky Division of Water (DOW), several project partners, and the general public to combat nonpoint source pollution in the Mill Creek Watershed, a 34-square-mile basin located in southwest Louisville that contains 156.8 stream miles.

Louisville MSD, in collaboration with the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Utility Management Community, has released a new episode of its podcast, “Talking H2Onestly.” This episode focuses on the use of wastewater surveillance information in the water industry and its implications for public health.

Bullitt County’s wastewater treatment system received a major upgrade recently as the West Triangle Pump Station began service, advancing Louisville MSD’s plans for greater efficiency and environmental stewardship.

The last MSD ClAIRity Community meeting for 2025 will take place Thursday,  October 30, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at MSD’s Hill Street office. The purpose of this meeting is to encourage meaningful conversations with the community about odor management. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their experiences, and receive updates on MSD’s ongoing and upcoming initiatives to reduce odors. 

Market Street, between Third and Fourth streets, is reduced to one lane for essential sewer line repairs, which are expected to take about a week to complete. It’s important to note that sewer services will not be disrupted during this work.

MSD is responsible for an extensive network of sewer lines, maintaining more than 3,600 miles – a distance that surpasses the width of the continental United States from California to Maine. Many of these lines have been in operation for over 75 years, with approximately 43 miles made of brick.
 

The next meeting in the MSD ClAIRity Community series will take place Tuesday, October 14, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at MSD’s Hill Street office. The purpose of this meeting is to encourage meaningful conversations with the community about odor management. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their experiences, and receive updates on MSD’s ongoing and upcoming initiatives to reduce odors. The discussions will focus on the factors contributing to odors and the steps MSD is taking to minimize their impact.