Community Voices: More Information Concerning Aftermath of Recent Storm

In the recent few weeks there has been much discussion on different social media platforms concerning the city’s sewer and storm water infrastructure, along with concerns and opinions in an effort to determine whether it has been maintained properly. Many of these opinions may not be grounded in fact, or in a few cases, reality. Since the beginning, the objective of The Falls Free Press has been to report information to the public on a neutral platform offering only facts and not opinion unless stated explicitly. With this in mind we wish to share a letter from Mayor Don Walters concerning the city’s sanitary and stormwater infrastructure and the work that has been done by the city to maintain it over the last five years, and measures going forward to help eliminate future problems:

In light of the flooding on 8/8/24, below is a history of improvements, upgrades, and routine and specialized maintenance to our storm sewers, sanitary sewers, and drainage systems over the past 5 years. Beyond the 5-year mark, improvements were also made following the 2014 storm. As a reminder, we have two separate sewer systems: sanitary sewers that carry tub, toilet, and sink water to the sewage treatment plant in the valley, and storm sewers that carry rainwater underground to the nearest creek, stream, or river. This list is by no means exhaustive but offers insight into the maintenance and improvements that have taken place. 

Sanitary Sewers

• 77,143 feet of sanitary sewer lines were power jetted to keep them clean and clog free
• 34,237 feet of sanitary sewer lines were foamed to eliminate tree roots
• 4719 sanitary sewer laterals were inspected and recorded using a drain camera 
• 566 sanitary sewer manholes were upgraded and sealed to keep stormwater out
• 108 sanitary sewer laterals were repaired or replaced with PVC pipe
• Second Street sanitary sewer was lined with polymer to keep stormwater out 
• Broad Blvd sanitary sewer was lined with polymer to keep stormwater out
• Grant Avenue sanitary sewer was lined with polymer to keep stormwater out
• Seattle Street sanitary sewer was lined with polymer to keep stormwater out
• Marguerite sanitary sewer was lined with polymer to keep stormwater out
• Generators were upgraded at sanitary sewer lift stations to function during power outages
• Howe Avenue reconstruction project replaced all sanitary sewers
• We have enforced all failed septic systems or illicit discharges

Storm Sewers 

• 2,172,000 pounds of debris has been collected by street sweepers over the past 5 years
• 6020 feet of culvert pipes were replaced
• 3860 feet of storm sewers were power jetted to keep them free from clogs
• 1237 storm sewer catch basin repairs were performed
• 207 catch basins were vacuumed and cleaned
• Hundreds of ditches around the city were graded to allow proper flow
• Upsizing of main culvert under the road on Chart Road
• Upsizing of main culvert under the road on Creekside Trail
• Upsizing of main culvert under the road on Sandalwood Lane
• Lippman Parkway storm sewer replacement
• Riverbank stabilization on Akron-Peninsula Road, Riverfront Parkway, and Water Works Park
• Silver Lake/Norma/Prange catch basin enlargements
• West Bath Road and Yellow Creek Road storm water improvements
• Preston Park drainage improvements
• Repair to storm sewer on Graham Road near Menards
• Valley View Drive drainage improvements
• Garden Avenue storm sewer improvements
• Smokerise Drive storm sewer improvements
• Sourek Trail storm sewer improvements 

In April, 2019, the City of Cuyahoga Falls increased our stormwater detention requirements for all new developments, forcing them to retain all their stormwater on-site in large detention basins. This is to keep them from negatively affecting surrounding areas. All of the developments below were forced to comply with the new stringent standards by adding detention ponds for flood control. 

• The 6-12 campus of Cuyahoga Falls City Schools- 13th Street
• Woodridge Elementary School- Quick Road
• Mudbrook Trail Greenway project- East Bath Road
• City of Cuyahoga Falls Electric Department building- Cochrane Road
• Cochrane Road Oxbow- the city purchased property and added a huge water retention zone
• City of Cuyahoga Falls Street Department storage building- Northampton Road
• The Glens Townhomes- Front Street
• Princeton Place- Wyoga Lake Road
• The Villages at Sycamore- Akron-Peninsula Road
•  The Ledges at Pine Ridge- State Road
• The Enclave at Old Mill Pond- Bath Road
• The Townes at Steels Corners
• Redwood Development- Bath Road
• Akron Children’s Hospital- 1625 Portage Trail
• Buffalo Wild Wings- 3001 State Road
• Overhead Door- 4266 Wyoga Lake Road
• Caliber Collision Center- 4095 State Road
• Self-Storage- 4204 Wyoga Lake Road
• Bede Storage- 262 East Steels Corners Road
• Storage buildings- 3422 State Road
• Unnamed Apartments—1247 Bailey Road