As Oneida County embarked on the first wave of significant system repairs and upgrades back in 2017, one of the first actions of County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. was to establish a Steering Committee consisting of representatives from each District municipality. The committee serves an essential role by helping inform decisions affecting systems operations, management, and costs.

Members of the Steering Committee include the chief elected official and also an appointed community representative from the City of Utica and each town and village in the district. Participants are selected based on their understanding of the technical aspects of the wastewater system as well as community needs.

The Steering Committee has worked together to incorporate the unique needs of each municipality in the development of a cohesive and cost-effective plan to address sewer overflows. In addition, the committee has established two working groups to focus specifically on the technical elements of Private Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) and Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM) programs.

The Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM) working group is tasked with providing municipal-level, hands-on feedback and guidance in developing a comprehensive OCSD-wide CMOM program that can be adapted at the municipal level. Thus far, this group has assisted in the development of standardized design and construction standards, CMOM standard operating guidelines, and a fats, oil, and grease (FOG) program to educate restaurants and other commercial operations of the proper handling of FOG materials which can severely clog pipes and disrupt sewer system operations.

The Private Property I/I working group provides input on program education and voluntary compliance initiatives. The group also is assisting in the development of a more formal program to address residential areas where significant mitigation efforts are needed to reduce system overflows during wet weather events.

View Steering Committee list.