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.

The Ohio River Sweep—one of the nation’s largest and longest-running environmental cleanup events — was held Saturday, June 16. River Sweep is sponsored by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), and locally by MSD, Louisville Water Company and LG&E. MSD’s Rhonda Boyle-Crotzer coordinates Jefferson County’s leg of the sweep. Dane Anderson, Lynne Fleming, Kandyce Groves, Lanita Grimes, Loren Levitz, Robin Shaw and Dolly Smith were the hosts for seven locations along Beargrass Creek and the Ohio River.

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 

Jacobi, Toombs and Lanz Inc. 

Mindel Scott & Associates, Inc 

HOW HE BECAME AN ENGINEER: 

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

The construction site for the Clifton Combined Sewer Overflow basin flooded over the weekend, an occurrence that MSD expected because the basin is on the river side of the flood protection system. The design of the basin will be such that, when completed, it will still function under these conditions.