Tt comment jul 1 2015

"They should be reported in hours, not minutes."

Apparently, that's a state issue.

Excerpts from a Mon, Jun 29, 2015 blog post by Blade writer Tom Henry titled How to track Toledo-area sewage overflows heading for western Lake Erie

Several people have asked me how heavy Toledo-area sewage overflows were this past weekend and what that means for the development of western Lake Erie algae this summer.

To track the overflows online, go to the Toledo Waterways Initiative website here and click on "Tech Data."

As of Monday afternoon, the city of Toledo hadn't posted numbers for last weekend. But I'm sure it will soon.

Maybe that's why Mr. Moore said no sewage ran into our waterways because the data was still unavailable. But that doesn't make sense because nearly any moderate to heavy rainfall will cause some CSO outfalls somewhere in the city.

More from Henry's blog post

The key thing to remember is that Toledo reports sewage overflows in duration, not volume. Unlike the state of Michigan, where online viewers can see overflows estimated in gallons, Ohio doesn't require that. A state EPA spokesman told me a while back that's because they question the accuracy of reporting overflows in gallons.

Knowing there are 60 minutes in an hour and 24 hours in a day, the maximum discharge you will find from any of the city's remaining sewage outlets for any single day is 1,440 consecutive minutes.

This month, [prior to Jun 27-28 data] the page shows 57 releases on nine different days through June 23, the worst being 270 consecutive minutes, or 4.5 hours, on June 15.

But, again, those statistics are about to be obliterated by what the city posts from last weekend in the coming days.

Btw, keep your eye on Outfall No. 33. That's been a high priority to the city because, historically, it has spilled more sewage than others. It held the distinction of the longest spill in May, more than nine consecutive hours.

I think that a gambling opportunity exists here. Bet on the top 3 CSO outfalls for win, place, and show, and then bet the over-under for the minutes on some outfalls.

For CSO no. 33:

• 06/28/2015, CSO #33 , Maumee, 925 minutes
• 06/27/2015, CSO #33 , Maumee, 668 minutes

Oh, man. That was a loser pick. Others did much "better."

"... the maximum discharge you will find from any of the city's remaining sewage outlets for any single day is 1,440 consecutive minutes."

Here are the CSO outfalls that registered at least 1,000 minutes or 16.7 hours per day.

1. 06/28/2015, CSO #48 , Hillside, 1440 minutes
2. 06/28/2015, CSO #62 , Windemere, 1315 minutes
3. 06/27/2015, CSO #62 , Windemere, 1295 minutes
4. 06/27/2015, CSO #7 , Nevada, 1196 minutes
5. 06/27/2015, CSO #6 , Main, 1152 minutes
6. 06/27/2015, CSO #26 , Magnolia, 1129 minutes
7. 06/27/2015, CSO #61 , Lagrange, 1106 minutes
8. 06/27/2015, CSO #27 , Locust, 1050 minutes
9. 06/27/2015, CSO #8 , Fasset, 1034 minutes
10. 06/27/2015, CSO #68 , CSO Tunnel 1&2, 1031 minutes
11. 06/28/2015, CSO #7 , Nevada, 1014 minutes
12. 06/27/2015, CSO #5 , Dearborn, 1005 minutes

Again, from the Jun 30 Blade story

Public Utilities Director Edward Moore said the sewer system worked well because no untreated sewage bypassed the city’s wastewater treatment plant into the Ottawa and Maumee rivers.

Hopefully, Henry will ask Moore to explain his comment now that the Jun 27-28 data is available.

Maybe justread is correct, and Moore did not lie, technically. But it appears that the city may have misled the public.

It appears that our forecast has stabilized with slightly below normal temps and little chance for rain over the next week.

Toledo 7-day forecast Last Update: Jul 1, 2015 3:11 am

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 7 to 11 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. East wind 6 to 8 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. East wind 5 to 9 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Independence Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 50%.