Omaha CSO
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Program Spotlights & Video Gallery
CSO Program Milestone Achievements with More to Come
The City of Omaha's regional sewer system serves customers in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. Omaha is one of more than 800 communities nationwide that have combined sewer systems. Some systems, including Omaha's, have combined sewer overflows (CSOs) that must be reduced to improve water quality in local rivers and streams.
Program SPOTlights
- CSO Program Milestones Achievements with More to Come – August 2023
- Separating Stream Flows from Combined Sewer Provides System Relief – May 2023
- CSO Perspectives: Managing Risk – All Projects Have Risk – Nov. 2022
- Burt-Izard Lift Station Provides Critical Support to System-Wide Operations – Aug. 2022
- Sewer Collection System Model – May 2022
- CSO LTCP Update Approved with Efficiencies, New Path Forward – Nov. 2021
- Updated Public Website Streamlines CSO Program Information – Aug. 2021
- Long Term Control Plan Updates Lead to Improved Efficiency for Omaha's CSO Program – May 2021
- CSO Program Makes Significant Improvements to Water Quality, Infrastructure – Feb. 2021
- Model Indicates Missouri River Water Quality – Nov. 2020
- SEB Spotlight: Contour Construction – Nov. 2020
- CSO Program Adapts to COVID-19 Impacts – Aug. 2020
- MRWRRF Operationally Complete – May 2020
- Collector Tunnel System Geotechnical Borings; Partnership with University of Nebraska-Lincoln Benefits CSO Program – Apr. 2020
- Runoff Restoration: A local park was restored in Nebraska to aid in reducing the overflow of raw sewage – Storm Water Solutions Magazine, Feb. 2020
- Optimization Task to Set Future Course for Program – Nov. 2019
- 2019 Flood Impacts on CSO Program Efforts – Aug. 2019
- Omaha’s Sewer Rate Increases are Lower than Projected – Aug. 2019
- South Interceptor Force Main Project Construction – May 2019
- Saddle Creek Retention Treatment Basin Project Benefits from Re-Engineering Benefits – Feb. 2019
- RNC Program Compliments CSO Program Efforts – Nov. 2018
- CSO Consent Order Amended – Aug. 2018
- Green Infrastructure Benefits Omaha’s CSO Program – May 2018
- South Interceptor Force Main Project: North Segment Construction – Feb. 2018
- Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Improvements – Nov. 2017
- Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Approves Long Term Control Plan Modifications – Aug. 2017
- Fontenelle Park Project – May 2017
- Focus on Safety – Feb. 2017
- Spring Lake Park Project – Nov. 2016
- Adams Park Wetlands Improvement Project – Aug. 2016
- New Municipal Headworks for the Missouri River WWTP Improvements–Schedule B1 Project – June 2016
- Change, Growth On the Horizon – Lauritzen Gardens Newsletter, Fall/Winter 2012
Video Gallery
Adams Park: Construction Time Lapse
This video illustrates construction at the John Creighton Boulevard & Miami / Adams Park Project from September 2014 to June 2016.
Beaver Dam
Omaha uses other green infrastructure to reduce stress on its storm sewers, including a structure resembling a beaver dam, which collects water during heavy rain events.
CSO Projects Funded by NET, Part 1
Despite being a mandated program, CSO projects explored numerous methods to create rain gardens, bioswales and other solutions to improve how wastewater is handled.
CSO Projects Funded by NET, Part 2
By implementing various ecological solutions, Omaha can keep stormwater in more natural ecosystems rather than forcing it into wastewater treatment plants.
Fontenelle Park Construction
Drone footage courtesy of Black & Veatch – Aug. 2017
Fontenelle Park Construction
Drone footage courtesy of Black & Veatch – Apr. 2017
Fontenelle Park Post Construction
Drone footage courtesy of Black & Veatch – Nov. 2019
Green Infrastructure
This two-minute animation, suggested for kids 10 and older, explains what green infrastructure is, where it can be seen in our community, and how it contributes to the CSO Program's goal of reducing bacteria in our rivers and streams.
Infraestructura verde
Esta animación de dos minutos, sugerida para niños mayores de 10 años, explica qué es la infraestructura verde, dónde se puede ver en nuestra comunidad y cómo contribuye a la OSC. El objetivo del programa es reducir las bacterias en nuestros ríos y arroyos.
Spring Lake Park
Spring Lake Park, an area once blighted with pollution, became a clean, usable space that matches stormwater retention with public value.
Spring Lake Park: Bringing the Plan to CSO
By creating a dialogue with the neighborhood, the CSO project was designed to suit both the ecological needs of a stormwater retention pond as well as the needs of the community to restore an amenity.
Spring Lake Park: Drone Video
Aug. 2017
Spring Lake Park: Green Infrastructure
CSO has become a best practice for forward-thinking national change by researching and implementing green infrastructure as part of the community’s solution for improving water quality.
Spring Lake Park: Implementing the Plan
CSO worked with the University of Nebraska - Lincoln’s water resource center to plan solutions for how to keep water clean and design the space.
Spring Lake Park: Inspiring Other Cities
This project serves as a strong example for Omaha and beyond of how cities and people can work together to inspire change in their communities.
Spring Lake Park: Planning Before CSO
Thanks to strong neighborhood involvement before the fact, the timing was perfect for CSO and the community to come together on this project.
Spring Lake Park: The Finished Project
After a picturesque reveal at the project’s news conference with the mayor, the diversity of plants and wildlife present added to the project’s success to create a clean, properly functioning green solution in the park.
What is a BioRetention Garden?
