Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

What Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District does

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) is a regional public utility district organized under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6119, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and serving more than 1 million residents across 62 member communities in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, and Summit counties. The utility operates three major wastewater treatment facilities — Easterly, Southerly (288 acres, the largest of its kind in Ohio), and Westerly — that collectively manage approximately 90 billion gallons of sanitary sewage annually, and it oversees roughly 450 miles of streams and rivers for stormwater and water-quality purposes. NEORSD's core programs include Project Clean Lake, a 25-year, $2.44 billion federally mandated CSO control initiative now 50% complete against its 4-billion-gallon reduction goal, and the Regional Stormwater Management Program, whose fee authority was upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2015 after a multi-year legal challenge.

The underlying technology stack combines conventional utility infrastructure (treatment plants, storage tunnels, conveyance systems) with an Esri ArcGIS-powered public GIS portal that underpins the Stormwater Fee Finder and watersheds dashboards. Customer-facing and operational workflows run on Microsoft PowerApps and Office Forms, and the utility references the US EPA Stormwater Calculator as an external tool. Supporting programs include the Industrial Pretreatment Program with Mercury Program compliance, the Green Infrastructure Grant Program, the Stormwater Fee Credit Program, the Member Community Infrastructure Program, the Community Cost-Share Program (returning 25% of local stormwater collections), and the Watershed Stewardship Center at West Creek.

Revenue is generated through a recurring, statutory rate-based model: sewer service charges billed per MCF of water consumption (monthly via Cleveland Water, quarterly for suburban customers) and stormwater fees assessed by Equivalent Residential Unit (1 ERU = 3,000 sq ft of impervious surface) on residential and commercial properties. Industrial customers pay surcharges and pretreatment fees under the Industrial Pretreatment Program. The 2017–2021 rate schedule authorized 8.3% annual increases to fund the Project Clean Lake capital program, and the affordability-program participation ceiling was raised from 50% to 80% of qualifying customers. Capital deployment is governed by a public Board of Trustees; no equity holders, parent company, or venture investors exist, and the entity is not publicly traded.

Name

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Legal name

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Website

https://neorsd.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is a regional public utility serving 1 million+ residents across 62 member communities in Greater Cleveland, operating three wastewater treatment plants, a Regional Stormwater Management Program, and the $2.44 billion Project Clean Lake CSO control initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater Treatment and Stormwater Management Services

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control & Compliance (Storage, Separation, Treatment) (EUANAEAG), Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL), Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Treatment & Wet-Weather Capacity (EUANADAF)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment services
• Stormwater management
• Combined sewer overflow control
• Environmental compliance
• Water utility operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Sewer Service Charges: Charges based on water consumption measured in MCF (1,000 cubic feet). Residential and commercial customers are billed for wastewater treatment services. Cleveland Water customers receive monthly billing; non-Cleveland Water customers receive quarterly billing.
2. Regional Stormwater Management Program Fees: Fees assessed based on impervious surface area (measured in Equivalent Residential Units of 3,000 sq ft). Tiered residential rates and commercial ERU-based billing with declining block rates for large properties.
3. Industrial Waste Control Fees: Fees for industrial customers under the Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP), including surcharges based on usage of the system and Mercury Program compliance fees.
4. Project Clean Lake Construction: Major capital improvement program costing $2.44 billion over 25 years for CSO reduction, funded through rate increases and debt service.
5. Community Cost-Share Program Revenue: 25% of stormwater revenue collected within each community is available for community-specific municipal stormwater management projects.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District operates three major wastewater treatment plants (Easterly, Southerly, Westerly) and provides regional stormwater management services for 62 member communities in Greater Cleveland. The organization manages over 90 billion gallons of sanitary sewage annually, addresses flooding and erosion across approximately 450 miles of streams and rivers, and administers Project Clean Lake, a 25-year, $2.44 billion federally mandated program to reduce combined sewer overflows by 4 billion gallons annually.

Product overview

NEORSD provides regional wastewater and stormwater management services as a single unified utility, not a modular software platform. The core offering comprises wastewater treatment (operated at three facilities: Easterly, Southerly, and Westerly) and the Regional Stormwater Management Program. These are supported by specialized programs including Project Clean Lake (a federally mandated 25-year CSO control initiative), the Green Infrastructure Grant Program (funding green stormwater infrastructure), the Industrial Pretreatment Program (regulating industrial discharges), and the Stormwater Fee Credit Program (incentivizing on-site stormwater management). Customer-facing tools include the Stormwater Fee Finder (impervious-surface-based fee calculator), Cost-Saving Programs (affordability, homestead, crisis assistance), and educational initiatives (SewerU, Clean Water Fest, Watershed Stewardship Center). The utility serves 62 member communities across Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, and Summit counties, managing over 90 billion gallons of sanitary sewage annually and addressing flooding, erosion, and water quality across approximately 450 miles of regional streams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Treatment Services Regional wastewater treatment services provided through three major facilities (Easterly, Southerly at 288 acres, and Westerly), processing sanitary sewage from 62 member communities and managing over 90 billion gallons annually. Southerly is described as the largest treatment plant of its kind in Ohio.
• Regional Stormwater Management Program Regional program addressing flooding, erosion, and water quality across Northeast Ohio through planning, maintenance, and construction of stormwater projects. Covers approximately 450 miles of streams and rivers, funded by stormwater fees based on impervious surface area (ERU = 3,000 sq ft).
• Project Clean Lake Major 25-year infrastructure program to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) by 4 billion gallons annually. To date, $2.44 billion has been spent or awarded, achieving 2 billion gallons of annual reduction (50% of goal) across 74 active or completed contracts with 5 future projects remaining.
• Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Program controlling combined sewer overflows where sanitary sewage and stormwater share pipes, addressing overflows during heavy rain that can discharge into waterways. Federally mandated and addressed through storage tunnels and treatment optimizations.
• Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) Regulatory program overseeing industrial customer discharges into the sewer system. Includes Mercury Program, Sewer Service Charge Based on Usage (SSCBOUTS), surcharge assessments, and Temporary Discharge Permits to ensure industrial wastes meet pretreatment standards.
• Green Infrastructure Grant Program Grant program funding green infrastructure projects (rain gardens, bioretention, pervious pavement) that remove stormwater from combined sewer systems. Open to member communities, governmental entities, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and businesses partnering with communities.
• Environmental Services and Laboratory Laboratory services providing environmental testing and analysis supporting water quality monitoring mandates. Conducts monitoring to manage over 90 billion gallons of sanitary sewage per year and ensures compliance with water quality standards.
• Community Cost-Share Program Program returning 25% of stormwater revenue collected within each community for local municipal stormwater management projects such as debris removal or flooding abatement. Enables communities to apply for reimbursement grants for local stormwater efforts.
• Member Community Infrastructure Program (MCIP) Program assisting NEORSD's 62 member communities with local sewer infrastructure issues. Part of the rate schedule adopted for 2017-2021, aimed at helping communities address local infrastructure needs.
• Cost-Saving Programs (Homestead, Affordability, Crisis Assistance) Financial assistance programs for qualified residential customers including reduced sewer rates for seniors (Homestead), income-based affordability programs, and crisis assistance for emergency situations. The 2017-2021 rate schedule increased eligible customer participation from 50% to 80%.
• Stormwater Fee Credit Program Program allowing customers to reduce their stormwater fee by implementing approved stormwater control measures. Credits include residential flat 25% reduction, stormwater quality credit up to 25%, stormwater quantity credit up to 75%, and education credit up to 25% for schools, with maximum credit of 100%.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 billion gallons of annual CSO reduction achieved since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of BrecksvillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership on Flood Reduction at Riverview Road project. City committed $900,000 through Community Cost-Share funds. Project raises roadway up to 4 feet, replaces undersized crossings, and provides 100-year storm protection. Requires coordination between City, County, and National Park.
• Cleveland MetroparkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative commitment to establish the Watershed Stewardship Center at West Creek (opened June 2013). Cleveland Metroparks provides education specialist Mark Warman and facility hosting. Joint investment in watershed and water-quality education for the region.
• City of ParmacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Watershed Stewardship Center at West Creek. City previously used West Creek Reservation as municipal landfill for 25 years before restoration. Contributed to collaborative commitment for watershed education facility.
• West Creek ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Watershed Stewardship Center and restoration of West Creek Reservation. Conservation organization supporting land protection and watershed stewardship initiatives.
• Alliance for Water FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEORSD is a founding partner of the Alliance for Water Future. Organization hosts stormwater management events and water quality innovation programs including Stormwater 101 business-to-business events and Alliance PitcH2O innovation competition with $5,000 prize.
• Burning River FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Alliance for Water Future to award $5,000 prize for top water quality innovator at Alliance PitcH2O event. Supports water quality innovation recognition programs.
• Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, and Summit CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partners providing aerial photography for impervious surface measurements used in stormwater fee calculations. Stormwater master planning covers watersheds across these four counties.
• EPA and Army Corps of EngineerscoreOthersFederal regulatory agencies overseeing Clean Water Act compliance and 'waters of the U.S.' definitions. Currently finalizing rule changes to redefine WOTUS under Clean Water Act.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• DC Water: Multi-jurisdictional regional water and wastewater utility serving the District of Columbia and surrounding suburbs, with active CSO control programs via tunnel storage — highly comparable in scale, regulatory complexity, and capital program profile.
• Philadelphia Water Department: Combined water, wastewater, and stormwater utility for the City of Philadelphia with active CSO and green city clean waters programs — a comparable combined utility offering similar services to NEORSD's portfolio.
• Boston Water and Sewer Commission: Independent regional authority providing water, sewer, and stormwater services to Boston with combined sewer overflow reduction initiatives — structurally comparable to NEORSD as an independent regional utility authority.
• Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN): Regional wastewater authority serving the Pittsburgh area with active CSO long-term control planning and significant tunnel infrastructure — directly comparable to NEORSD's Project Clean Lake mandate.
• Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District: Regional wastewater and flood management utility serving the Milwaukee area with combined sewer service area, deep tunnel storage, and water quality programs — a comparable regional authority model to NEORSD.
• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago: Large regional wastewater and stormwater utility district serving the Chicago metropolitan area with combined sewer overflow control, treatment plants, and watershed management — a near-direct functional peer to NEORSD's mandate.
• Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati: Ohio-based regional sewer district providing wastewater and stormwater management under comparable state statutory authority. Same regulatory environment and similar service model makes it the closest geographic peer to NEORSD.
• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Regional public utility providing water, wastewater, and stormwater services to San Francisco with combined sewer system operation and watershed management — comparable municipal utility with multi-program mandate like NEORSD.
• Detroit Water and Sewerage Department: Regional water and sewerage utility serving Detroit and surrounding communities with major infrastructure programs addressing aging systems — a comparable Rust Belt regional utility facing similar CSO and affordability dynamics.
• Buffalo Sewer Authority: Municipal sewer authority serving Buffalo, NY, with active combined sewer overflow long-term control planning and stormwater coordination — a like-sized regional peer with similar Great Lakes water quality mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/neorsdccr
• Facebookfacebook.com/yoursewerdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northeast-ohio-regional-sewer-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/neorsd
• Xx.com/neorsd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District