Local efforts to control sewer overflows seem to be working. Ottawa City Engineer Tom Duttlinger says he got no calls about basement backups during the heavy rains of a little over a week ago. Some parts of the city have bigger sewer pipes now. City Hall is having them installed as directed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
It’s a similar story in Marseilles. City Engineer Mike Etscheid says fixing drainage problems on Fillebrowne St. and other areas was money well spent.
Etscheid says Marseilles is fortunate for having only one place where there’s a combined sewer overflow problem.
Steven Devine contributed to this story.