“Chemung, Elmira, Combined Sewer Overflow Discharge, Chemung River”
If you live in Chemung County you have probably seen this notice in an email or text message during heavy or protracted rain events. Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) – A hydraulic relief point where untreated combined sewage is discharged to the environment during high flow conditions. In our case, rain water and raw sewage is discharged into the Chemung River several times a year. Although it sounds horrible, very little raw sewage is discharged each time it happens, but it does happen.
One of the reasons Chemung County is constructing a new sewer plant is to help reduce, not eliminate this from happening.
Ali Rennie, Executive Director of the Chemung County Sewer District gave a presentation to the county legislature on May 26, 2026 as to how the sewer district is looking to mitigate this problem along with help of the new sewer plant expansion.
Please view the slides to her presentation below.
May 2026 CSO Mitigation Leg Presentation