By Noell Wolfgram Evans
Staff Writer
Residents of the Hilltop should see a dramatic decrease in waterlogged basements and sewer overflows as Project Blueprint is rolled out.
The $2.5 billion Project Blueprint is a collaboration between the city of Columbus and the Ohio EPA, with a goal of stopping overflows in sanitary sewers. In doing so, residents would benefit from safer drinking water, cleaner daily-use water, and experience less sewer overflows.
Project Blueprint was developed to meet a pair of federal court issued wet weather consent orders. The first phase started in 2015, in the Clintonville and Linden areas. It is expected to take 20 years to fully implement the project.
There are four pillars with a Project Blueprint implementation:
•Lateral Pipe Lining – Creates a new pipe inside of existing lines.
•Roof Water Redirection – Repositioning downspouts to ensure rainwater flows away from building foundations.
•Sump Pump Installations – Enable eligible homeowners to receive an installed sump pump at no cost.
•Green Infrastructure Creation – Includes the installation of porous concrete and the creation of rain gardens across a neighborhood to help filter water and slow stormwater, so that pipes, rivers, and streams do not get overwhelmed.
Columbus City councilman Michael Stinziano said, “The city has started work on the Blueprint Hilltop Lining Project which consists of the rehabilitation of approximately 109,900 LF of 8- thru 30-inch sewers utilizing the Cured-in-Place Pipe process.”
This work is taking place between West Broad Street on the north, Derrer Road on the west, Sullivant Avenue on the south, and Wheatland Avenue on the east. The first phase of work is budgeted at $6 million. The OEPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Program has provided a loan for the project.
In tandem, city engineers will be looking to determine the best locations for the green infrastructure components.
Anita Musser, a public relations specialist with the city said, “We expect to be far enough along in the design plans to begin the conversation about green infrastructure with residents this summer.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2019 on that Project Blueprint pillar.
