Water quality monitoring underway after sewer overflows into creeks, contractor chosen for Arlington fix

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A recent round of heavy rain resulted in “significant” sanitary sewer overflows in Toledo, a city spokesperson said. It comes as the city has chosen a contractor for repairs to the Arlington sewer failure and sinkhole after a rebidding process.

A statement from a city spokesperson on Friday said the city is hiring Kokosing for nearly $8 million for the repairs. The project was rebid after the city rejected a previous one for more than $21 million.

It comes as city crews and the Ohio EPA monitors water quality in waterways following sanitary sewer overflows into Swan Creek and Delaware Creek, the spokesperson said.

The city said heavy rain on Monday contributed to a failure in a major sewer interceptor on Arlington, resulting in significant sanitary sewer overflows on Tuesday. The overflows turned into the following backups, according to the statement:

• at Yaryan Drive and Rohr Street, where a manhole overflowed into Delaware Creek
• on the north side of Arlington between Research Drive and Main Technology Drive, where another overflow discharged into Swan Creek
• at 4313 Glendale and 4330 Holly Hill, manholes overflowed into Heilman Ditch

City workers notified the Ohio EPA, and while water quality monitoring continues, an investigation found no additional contributing infrastructure issues, the spokesperson said. The sewer failure is also the cause of the sinkholes on Arlington that resulted in road closures in recent months.

Workers are warning that similar backups could happen again when there’s heavy rain until the Kokosing crews get a pump up and running, which is expected in mid-June. The repairs start with installing the pump to clear the backup and reroute water flow. Only then will it be safe to begin excavating the site.

“We appreciate residents’ continued patience as we work to resolve this complex infrastructure challenge and protect public health and the environment,” the statement from a city spokesperson read.

Toledoans can learn more about the construction projected at a public meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 12 at Arlington Elementary.

Residents can report basement flooding or sewer backups to Engage Toledo.

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