Speaking

This presentation describes the evolution of the City of Ashland’s efforts to eliminate wet-weather overflows at its Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF), beginning with a regulatory-driven No Feasible Alternative (NFA) analysis for equalization basin overflows and expanding into a comprehensive, long-term capital planning effort. Originally undertaken to satisfy Ohio EPA NPDES permit requirements, the NFA evaluated collection system improvements, operational strategies, treatment capacity enhancements and storage alternatives to address recurring overflow events.

As the study progressed, the analysis revealed that effectively addressing overflows required a broader, systems-based approach. The resulting effort transformed from a single-purpose compliance study into a practical capital improvements roadmap that balanced regulatory compliance, operational reliability, affordability and long-term resiliency. While early concepts emphasized phased improvements and targeted inflow and infiltration reduction, the final recommendation advanced construction of a 10-million-gallon equalization basin as the most effective and sustainable solution. The session highlights key technical, operational, regulatory and planning lessons learned, offering valuable insight for utilities facing similar challenges with overflow mitigation and capital program development.