UNDERSTANDING SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS

Learn What Causes Overflows

A sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) is any overflow, spill, release, discharge or diversion of untreated or partially treated wastewater due to an obstruction, system failure, or capacity exceedance at the wastewater facility or in the contributing collection system. An SSO can introduce wastewater onto streets and into stormwater systems where it can impact surface waterbodies such as lakes, rivers and estuaries.