Akron sewer problem dates to early 1900s

PROBLEM DATES TO EARLY 1900s

Akron’s problem with combined sewers dates back to the early 1900s.

Much of the central city has one sewer system to handle sewage and stormwater. After heavy rains, the water-sewage mix will back up into houses and businesses, unless it is allowed to overflow into local waterways.

Such overflows pollute the water supply.

Akron is not alone in dealing with such problems; there are 770 American cities with combined sewers. That list includes systems serving the Cleveland area, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.