{"id":2,"date":"2025-04-15T16:14:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T16:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2025-11-05T11:56:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T16:56:17","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Trucks remove the water from Sharon Lewis\u2019 home in Hartford, Connecticut, Dec. 9, 2022. (Photo\/Sharon Lewis)<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Trucks-Pumping-Water-Out-of-Sharon-Lewis-Home-scaled-e1749826095428-1024x1024.jpeg\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-224 size-large\" alt src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Trucks-Pumping-Water-Out-of-Sharon-Lewis-Home-768x1024.jpeg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"><\/span>
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EXPLAINED<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Problem: 50 Sewage Overflows a Year<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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People in the 21st<\/sup> cen\u00adtu\u00adry expect sewage sys\u00adtems to carry away and break down waste safe\u00adly. But what if that isn\u2019t the norm? What if, on a rainy day, untreat\u00aded waste moves the wrong way \u2014 up and out of flood\u00ading street pipes, onto streets and into base\u00adments? Many res\u00adi\u00addents of Hartford\u2019s North End of Hartford have lived that real\u00adi\u00adty for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This map shows sewerage system repairs planned in Hartford's North End neighborhoods. Areas within red borders are where the Metropolitan District Commission is separating storm pipes from sewer pipes, and areas within blue lines where it is lining and repairing pipes. Map from the MDC<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-1024x576.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-1024x576.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-293\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:350px;height:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/MDC-map-of-North-End-Project-Areas-1980x1114.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

$170M Sewage Elimination Project Deadline Extended<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since 1994, the Metropolitan District Commission has been legal\u00adly bound to elim\u00adi\u00adnate dis\u00adcharg\u00ading untreat\u00aded sewage into rivers through a series of con\u00adsent orders with the state of Connecticut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lifetime of Flooding Fuels Fight for Environmental Justice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights attor\u00adney and envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal activist Cynthia Jennings is among the gen\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtions of Hartford res\u00adi\u00addents who have endured flood\u00ading in their homes from untreat\u00aded waste mixed with water from inten\u00adsi\u00adfy\u00ading storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sewer Separation Construction in Hartford's North End neighborhood.<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-681x1024.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-681x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-368\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:350px;height:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-681x1024.jpg 681w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-1362x2048.jpg 1362w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-1200x1805.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-1980x2978.jpg 1980w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/DSC_0017-min-scaled.jpg 1702w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Grant Program Funded 557 Fixes Before Ending<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In 2023, the state put $9 mil\u00adlion into the Hartford Flood Relief and Compensation Program. The pro\u00adgram ended a year later. Sewer infra\u00adstruc\u00adture repairs won\u2019t be fin\u00adished for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sharon Lewis in 2022, the year she won an award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for her work helping residents advocate for safer living conditions. Later that year, her house flooded from a sewage backup.<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-21-at-4.51.54\u202fPM-1024x684.png\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-21-at-4.51.54\u202fPM.png\" alt class=\"wp-image-302\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:400px;height:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-21-at-4.51.54\u202fPM.png 1156w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-21-at-4.51.54\u202fPM-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-21-at-4.51.54\u202fPM-1024x684.png 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-21-at-4.51.54\u202fPM-150x100.png 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-21-at-4.51.54\u202fPM-768x513.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1156px) 100vw, 1156px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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NORTH END<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sharon Lewis: Flood Led to Resilience<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sharon Lewis was about to move out of her long\u00adtime Rutland Street home in Hartford when flood\u00ading from a com\u00adbined sewage over\u00adflow destroyed prop\u00ader\u00adty, keep\u00adsakes, appli\u00adances and her con\u00adfi\u00addence in insur\u00adance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The once-filled Star Hardware "Wall of Fame," now empty inside Express Kitchens. Photo by Mia Jaworski<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Star-Hardware-empty-wall-of-fame.png\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Star-Hardware-empty-wall-of-fame.png\" alt class=\"wp-image-311\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:350px;height:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Star-Hardware-empty-wall-of-fame.png 810w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Star-Hardware-empty-wall-of-fame-300x210.png 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Star-Hardware-empty-wall-of-fame-150x105.png 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Star-Hardware-empty-wall-of-fame-768x539.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Chronic Flooding Put Star Hardware Out of Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Located in an area plagued by com\u00adbined sewer over\u00adflows and street flood\u00ading, the Hartford North End neigh\u00adbor\u00adhood hard\u00adware store endured repeat\u00aded water dam\u00adage, incur\u00adring mil\u00adlions in loss\u00ades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Giant Tunnel to Hold Sewage from 17 Sectors<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Reducing com\u00adbined sewer over\u00adflows is an expen\u00adsive, time-con\u00adsum\u00ading endeav\u00ador. In Hartford, the MDC set\u00adtled on a solu\u00adtion not used any\u00adwhere else in Connecticut: stor\u00ading waste inside a giant tun\u00adnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Excessive Water Delays Massive Tunnel Operation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, the MDC began con\u00adstruct\u00ading a 18-foot diam\u00ade\u00adter stor\u00adage tun\u00adnel some 200 feet below the sur\u00adface to hold untreat\u00aded sewage and rain\u00adwa\u00adter dur\u00ading storms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ENVIRONMENT<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes Clean: A Profile of Wethersfield Cove<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An abun\u00addance of fish, birds and plant life con\u00adtribute to the vibrant ecosys\u00adtem of Wethersfield Cove, the 750-meter inlet arm of the Connecticut River sit\u00adu\u00adat\u00aded between I\u201191 South and Old Wethersfield. But \u201cNo Swimming\u201d signs and spo\u00adradic shut\u00addowns of the cove after heavy rain\u00adfall reveal the sewage over\u00adflow chal\u00adlenges that have plagued that area, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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E. coli are germs called bacteria. They are found in many places, including in the environment, foods, water, and the intestines of people and animals. Photo by CDC<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/cdc-7tgIlnxj2bM-unsplash-scaled-e1749235705918-1024x815.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/cdc-7tgIlnxj2bM-unsplash-916x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-747\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:350px;height:300px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How Uncontained Waste Can Make People Sick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Combined sewage over\u00adflows can pour bac\u00adte\u00adria into water where peo\u00adple swim or go boat\u00ading, and reg\u00adu\u00adlar flood\u00ading from sewage back\u00adups can form mold inside build\u00adings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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American shad swim upriver every spring to spawn in the Connecticut River. Photo by Bill Byrne\/ Massachusetts Wildlife<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife-1024x710.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife-1024x710.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-468\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:350px;height:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife-1024x710.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife-150x104.jpg 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife-768x532.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife-1536x1065.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife-1200x832.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/American-Shad-in-CT-River-by-Bill-Byrne-MassWildlife.jpg 1773w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Pollution Hurts Delicate Life Cycles of Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sewage over\u00adflows enter\u00ading the Connecticut River and its trib\u00adu\u00adtaries can lead to die-offs of migra\u00adto\u00adry fish species, includ\u00ading the American shad, Connecticut\u2019s offi\u00adcial fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Over time, rainfall is increasing in Connecticut. Although 2025 has been a relatively dry year, 2023-24 was very wet. The added rain makes combined sewage overflows worse. Map from the Northeast Regional Climate Center.<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-05-17-at-10.02.30\u202fAM-edited-1-1024x576.png\" src=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-05-17-at-10.02.30\u202fAM-edited-1.png\" alt class=\"wp-image-988\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:350px;height:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-05-17-at-10.02.30\u202fAM-edited-1.png 1220w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-05-17-at-10.02.30\u202fAM-edited-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-05-17-at-10.02.30\u202fAM-edited-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-05-17-at-10.02.30\u202fAM-edited-1-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-05-17-at-10.02.30\u202fAM-edited-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-05-17-at-10.02.30\u202fAM-edited-1-850x478.png 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Rain Worsens Combined Sewage Overflows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With rain\u00adfall in the Northeast increas\u00ading over the past sev\u00ader\u00adal decades due to a warmer, more humid cli\u00admate, com\u00adbined sewage sys\u00adtems are being inun\u00addat\u00aded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chicago dug this reservoir, McCook Reservoir, to hold untreated waste from its deep tunnel system. This is how the reservoir looked on May 16, 2025. Photo from mwrd.org, Chicago's Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM-1024x622.png\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM.png\" alt class=\"wp-image-278\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:400px;height:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM.png 1620w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM-1024x622.png 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM-150x91.png 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM-768x466.png 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM-1536x933.png 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-7.40.54\u202fPM-1200x729.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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SOLUTIONS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

What We Can Learn From Deep Tunnel Systems in Other Cities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In big cities like Chicago and Milwaukee, where com\u00adbined sewer over\u00adflows used to be a reg\u00adu\u00adlar threat, deep tun\u00adnel sys\u00adtems have dras\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly reduced the num\u00adber and sever\u00adi\u00adty of over\u00adflows. Few projects rival the scale and impact of Chicago\u2019s 100-mile sys\u00adtem with tun\u00adnels as large as 33 feet in diam\u00ade\u00adter and buried as far as 350 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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R<\/strong>ead more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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MORE COVERAGE<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The first stage of sewage treatment removes large objects, which end up in dumpsters. Photo by Elijah Polance<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-1024x681.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-1024x681.jpeg\" alt class=\"wp-image-253\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:350px;height:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-1024x681.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-300x199.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-768x511.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-1536x1021.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-2048x1362.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-1200x798.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/Photo_grit-removal-dumpster-Elijah-1980x1316.jpeg 1980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Here\u2019s How Sewage Treatment Usually Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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On typ\u00adi\u00adcal days with mod\u00ader\u00adate weath\u00ader, under\u00adground pipes carry sewage from homes and busi\u00adness\u00ades direct\u00adly to a waste treat\u00adment plant for clean\u00ading and fil\u00adter\u00ading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Full story<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Park River takes on combined sewage overflows in multiple places. Here it flows into the culverts under Farmington Avenue in Hartford's West End. From here it will carry the river underground, still taking on overflows from storm drains. Photo by Justin Doughty<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-1024x768.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-344\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:350px;height:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/05\/2ParkRiverGoesUnderground-1980x1485.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Whose Fault is the Flooding? It\u2019s Complicated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The city of Hartford\u2019s com\u00adbined sewage infra\u00adstruc\u00adture dates back to the 1870s, and many parts of the sys\u00adtem have remained the same since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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McCauley: North End Victimized by Political Apathy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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J. Stan McCauley, pres\u00adi\u00addent of the Greater Hartford African American Alliance, said those in power were too slow to respond to res\u00adi\u00addents\u2019 suf\u00adfer\u00ading with sewage over\u00adflows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Full story<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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ABOUT THIS PROJECT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why we reported about sewage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This series digs into what a \u201csafe, healthy envi\u00adron\u00adment\u201d might mean for a city where some peo\u00adple have been hop\u00ading for gen\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtions that the com\u00adbined sewer sys\u00adtem would man\u00adage waste\u00adwater safe\u00adly. In some neigh\u00adbor\u00adhoods in Hartford, Connecticut, the fight for envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal jus\u00adtice is ongo\u00ading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To fully grasp the sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtion at hand, eight jour\u00adnal\u00adism stu\u00addents at the University of Connecticut spent three months report\u00ading on the repair project and get\u00adting to know some of the real-life, some\u00adtimes dev\u00adas\u00adtat\u00ading impact this pol\u00adlu\u00adtion has exact\u00aded on res\u00adi\u00addents. Health, prop\u00ader\u00adty, and ade\u00adquate com\u00adpen\u00adsa\u00adtion are just a few of the con\u00adse\u00adquences on the line for Hartford res\u00adi\u00addents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Flushed items in wastewater are separated at the MDC Hartford Water Pollution Control Facility in Hartford, Connecticut, Friday March 14, 2025. (Photo\/Julianna D\u2019Addona)<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-768x1024.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-768x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-121\" style=\"border-radius:20px;width:400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-1980x2640.jpg 1980w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/files\/2025\/04\/IMG_5873-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\">
Flushed items in waste\u00adwater are sep\u00ada\u00adrat\u00aded at the MDC Hartford Water Pollution Control Facility in Hartford, Connecticut, Friday March 14, 2025. (Photo\/Julianna D\u2019Addona)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cEnvironmental jus\u00adtice is the idea that all peo\u00adple and com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties have the right to live and thrive in safe, healthy envi\u00adron\u00adments with equal envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal pro\u00adtec\u00adtions and mean\u00ading\u00adful involve\u00adment in these actions.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014American Public Health Association<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

$170M Sewage Elimination Project Deadline Extended Since 1994, the Metropolitan District Commission has been legal\u00adly bound to elim\u00adi\u00adnate dis\u00adcharg\u00ading untreat\u00aded sewage into rivers through a series of con\u00adsent orders with the state of Connecticut. Lifetime of Flooding Fuels Fight for Environmental Justice Civil Rights attor\u00adney and envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal activist Cynthia Jennings is among the gen\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtions of\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1107,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"page-templates\/full-width.php","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":341,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1212,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/1212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/hartford-north-end-chronic-flooding-sewage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}