The Department

The Mahoning County Sanitary Engineers Office was established in 1922 by the Board of county Commissioners for many of the same reasons that we exist today. That being, to Preserve and Promote Public Health, Safety, and to be Stewards of the General Welfare of the Community.

In the early 20's Mahoning County saw increasing growth in the unincorporated areas of the county, primarily Austintown, and Boardman. The Mahoning county Commissioners had a vision to promote that growth through the Establishment of the Sewer District. Today the department owns, operates and maintains 800 miles of sanitary sewer, 11 miles of waterline, and 45 sanitary lift stations. The MCSE office operates on a $18 mil. budget and employs 69 Bargaining unit and 18 non-Bargaining unit employees

The department operates under State and Federal Regulations. The duties as mandated are outlined in the Ohio Revised Code, Section 6117. Said code section establishes the framework for the department by defining topics such as: Operations, Budgets, Limits of Liability, acquisition of goods and services for the department, Procedures to be followed in the Extension of Sewer Service, and outlines the Process to be followed for the sanitary sewer extensions to be constructed by Assessment. The state of Ohio expands and regulates National policy as developed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). The State issues each Treatment Facility a NPDES Permit (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit). The NPDES Permit guidelines were established by the Clean Water Act originally passed in 1972 by Congress and Updated in 1977, 1987, 1992, and is currently being studied by Congress for revision. Each Permit varies from plant to plant and is governed by the acceptability of the receiving stream that the plant discharges into. The Mahoning County Commissioners along with the Sanitary Engineer are the owners and operators of five major and one small wastewater treatment facility throughout the county.

Mission Statement

The Mahoning County Sanitary Engineering Department for all customers of the metropolitan sewer district and the residents and businesses of Mahoning County will provide quality service, promote public health, safety, and protect the general welfare of the community especially in areas of environmental issues. The department is committed to assisting the community in economic development through responsive and planned use of their sanitary sewer system. The department supports and encourages community self-reliance and responsibility while serving as a model employer.

Copyright © 2003 Mahoning County Sanitary Engineering Department