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A lake that learns can change a region. Sam Martin, Director of Communications and Engagement at Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA), shares how Lake Erie has become the world’s largest digitally-connected freshwater test bed—and why that matters for public health, utility costs, and the next wave of water-tech jobs. 

Sam walks us through the water economy—everything from maritime logistics and treatment plants to sensing, analytics, and policy—and explains why real-world testing beats lab demos every time. The CWA acts as matchmaker between innovators and end users, backing pilot projects with insurance and support. It makes a compelling case for Cleveland as a freshwater innovation capital.

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A new crew of superheroes, the Lake Erie League, is turning everyday systems into comic-book stories for kids and teachers to use in the classroom. Across eight origin tales, these northeast Ohio-inspired characters mirror very real aspects of the Sewer District's work, from massive tunneling machines whose creations tame storm overflows, to a miniaturized lab technician who can detect toxins no human eye could witness.

We start with Mackenzie, inspired by the tunnel boring machine behind Project Clean Lake, who illustrates how infrastructure projects matter underground and on the surface. Spectra brings lab science to life with tests that our students can replicate in class, while Rover and Dr. Tao tackle sewer and stream inspections and the microscopic world of water quality. Botanica's story is rooted stream protection, restoration, and sustainability, and Vis and Overwatch round out the Lake Erie League with CSI-style adventures as seen from the field -- and above it.

Teachers can request print copies of the new comic book for their classrooms and access the stories and activity sheets at neorsd.org/league.

Meet the Lake Erie League creators:

Joe Sieracki, writer

Miguel Hernandez, illustrator

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Art meets infrastructure! The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District partnered with the nonprofit creative-writing center Literary Cleveland to host a reading of "Odes to Infrastructure," a newly-published zine, right in the heart of our Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant. It was a celebration of our essential-yet-often-unseen water systems and, of course, Lake Erie.

Standing in the concrete tunnels where our treatment-plant workers normally move about, the Literary Cleveland writers delivered readings of poetry and short stories inspired by our infrastructure and its relationship to a cleaner Lake Erie. The echoing chamber amplified both their voices and the central message: connection. As one writer eloquently put it, "Stories and sewers bind us. They reveal our interconnectedness, our mutual dependence."

By bringing writers into treatment plants for tours and workshops Literary Cleveland created a new forum for highlighting our critical work.

Here's some photos from the event!

Visit Literary Cleveland for more info about workshops and tours.

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Technology continues to transform how the Sewer District manages wastewater and stormwater. 

Process Analyst Ron Maichle explains how the District's drone program evolved from emergency-response support to an essential tool for project planning and monitoring. Engineer Joe Reese demystifies the elaborate control systems that allow operators to monitor and manage entire treatment facilities from centralized locations.  

What technological solution will transform water management next?

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The newly released 2025 Ohio Infrastructure Report Card delivers a sobering assessment of the systems we rely on daily but rarely think about. Ohio has made modest improvements since the last American Society of Civil Engineers' report in 2021, yet vulnerabilities persist.

Sewer District employees (and ASCE members) Derek Vogel and Lita Laven walk us through the grades and explain how federal infrastructure funding has breathed new life into long-neglected systems, particularly benefiting water, transit, and bridge projects across the state. However, the looming expiration of this funding in 2027 threatens to erase these hard-won gains. And with Ohio's stormwater infrastructure approaching the end of its designed lifespan, we're facing a perfect storm of aging systems and increasingly intense rainfall events.

Check out the complete 2025 Infrastructure Report Card to see how your state's vital systems measure up.

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What does sustainability mean for a wastewater utility? 

Sustainability Manager Marie Fechik-Kirk shares her thoughts on environmental stewardship at the Sewer District. Under Marie's guidance, the NEORSD has integrated sustainability into its everyday operations and engineering projects. 

Listeners will also discover sustainability tips for their own homes to make an environmental impact while helping their budget. 

For NEORSD employees:

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at the NEORSD provide a great opportunity for employees to learn new things and network with other employees. Learn more about our Sustainability ERG.

Also, sustainability can be integrated into your work goals. Check out our Sustainability Plan to see how we’ve integrated sustainability into many areas, from Analytical Services to Watersheds Design.

For more information, contact Marie Fechik-Kirk at [email protected]  

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A recent innovation, the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) has transformed from an emergency response to COVID-19 into a comprehensive early warning system for disease outbreaks.

The NWSS monitors approximately 45% of the US population through over 1,400 sampling sites. Public health laboratories can analyze genetic material from the waste stream to detect the presence of pathogens even before clinical symptoms appear in communities. 

Despite the inherent complexity of wastewater samples, the process has demonstrated surprising accuracy in predicting disease trends.

Visit cdc.gov/nwss to explore the NWSS dashboard.

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Mike is at the 18th annual Ohio Stormwater Conference, where nearly 1,000 environmental professionals gather to discuss flooding, erosion, and water quality advances—and new challenges.

The conversation begins with sobering news about watershed organizations facing an uncertain future as they scramble to fill funding gaps in their programs. We also talk with the Ohio Public Works Commission and its support of essential projects across the state. The latest Infrastructure Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) shows some improvement, but also notes the cost of neglecting funding for our shared assets.  

What stands out at this conference is the personal connection between the professionals and their work. Their personal investment guides their technical expertise and inspires them to make a real-world impact with every project.

Learn more about the Ohio Stormwater Conference at https://ohstormwaterconference.com/

Sign up for the Sewer District's Summer Sprinkling Program at https://customerservice.neorsd.org/s/summer-sprinkling-program

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Imagine standing in downtown Cleveland and gazing at Lake Erie just blocks away, yet feeling disconnected by an intimidating landscape of highways and parking lots. This frustrating paradox has defined Cleveland's relationship with its waterfront for decades.

The Shore to Core to Shore Initiative is an ambitious and promising effort to reconnect Cleveland's downtown with Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Jessica Trivisonno, Senior Advisor for Major Projects for Mayor Bibb, and Drew Crawford, Senior Director of Planning for Downtown Cleveland, give us an update on the transformative plans that will finally bridge these divides.

Ready to imagine a Cleveland where you can seamlessly walk from Tower City to the riverfront, or from Public Square to the lake? Construction begins in 2027, but the vision is taking shape now. Listen in to understand how Cleveland is finally poised to embrace its greatest natural assets.

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The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership (DBWP) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are collaborating on a stream-restoration project to address wall deterioration, improve fish habitat, and restore natural stream function through Cleveland's Cultural Gardens along MLK Boulevard. Sections of the channel's stone walls, built during the Works Progress Administration, have broken apart, and local experts are working to balance historic preservation with ecological restoration.

In this discussion, Emily Kao (DBWP) and Jenn Brancho (USACE) describe their organizations' measured approach to planning a revitalized urban waterway. We learn how channelization has dramatically altered the stream's natural functions, and how the partnership can deliver a comprehensive restoration strategy that honors both ecological needs and cultural heritage.