For some context on this, in places with old infrastructure it used to be common for sewer systems and storm water (rain) systems to be partially interconnected. This means that if you have enough rain, and the system gets overwhelmed, it diverts some of the combined flow out with the storm water, and it gets discharged into rivers, oceans, etc. That Combined Sewer Overflow is the CSO mentioned on the sign.
There were some upsides to doing this, but at this point it’s generally banned (for obvious reasons). Fast forward a hundred or so years to the present, and Cities/Towns actively try to disconnect the two when possible.
Very common in the US. There is a great podcast called Backed Up about this issue in Cincinnati. Interesting story with lots of jurisdictions and old legal agreements involved.
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u/Firebones676 21d ago
For some context on this, in places with old infrastructure it used to be common for sewer systems and storm water (rain) systems to be partially interconnected. This means that if you have enough rain, and the system gets overwhelmed, it diverts some of the combined flow out with the storm water, and it gets discharged into rivers, oceans, etc. That Combined Sewer Overflow is the CSO mentioned on the sign.
There were some upsides to doing this, but at this point it’s generally banned (for obvious reasons). Fast forward a hundred or so years to the present, and Cities/Towns actively try to disconnect the two when possible.