When you think of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), you probably just think of wastewater and that monthly bill that comes in the mail. But there is much more to the work of the Sewer District than most people know. The Sewer District owns and operates three wastewater treatment plants: Easterly and Westerly treatment plants in Cleveland and Southerly treatment plant in Cuyahoga Heights. These treatment plants clean tens of billions of gallons of wastewater every year, reducing pollution and improving the water quality of our beautiful Lake Erie.

What many don’t know is that the Sewer District also protects the Cuyahoga River watershed and the more than two dozen smaller watersheds that drain into the lake. Its essential regional stormwater and watershed management maintains and protects major infrastructure and mitigates flooding, erosion and water quality issues along area waterways. The Sewer District is also investing billions of dollars in gray and green infrastructure projects to further protect public health and the environment.  

The Cuyahoga Land Bank has proudly partnered with the NEORSD for several years, demolishing nearly 100 residential and commercial properties on their behalf that were impeding the District’s work. The Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Community Stabilization team also performed inspections and hazardous materials evaluations/abatements of the buildings before demolition.  According to our COO, Kim Kimlin, “The collaboration has allowed for the Cuyahoga Land Bank to lend its expertise and clear the way for NEORSD’s watershed protection efforts.”

“Protecting public health and the environment is central to everything we do,” said Lilah Zautner, property acquisition project manager at NEORSD. “Our partnership with the Cuyahoga Land Bank allows us to utilize property in new ways to restore functionality to our regional stormwater network and protect our watersheds.”

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