PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING

HAMILTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING

Recent historic flooding in Connersville, Indiana, knocked the city's wastewater treatment plant offline, causing an active, ongoing discharge of raw sewage into the Whitewater River. Downstream health departments, including Hamilton County Public Health in Ohio, have issued safety advisories urging the public to avoid water contact.

Treatment Plant Damage and Status

• Severe mid-August 2026 storms and flooding heavily damaged the wastewater treatment plant, requiring extensive digester pump repairs and lift station rebuilds.

• The facility remains offline while repair plans and cleanup efforts are underway.

• An unknown volume of untreated municipal sewage continues to empty into the Whitewater River.

Downstream Health Warnings

• Hamilton County Public Health and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) warn residents to avoid recreational water contact.

• No-contact advisory: Avoid swimming, boating, wading, or letting bare skin touch the Whitewater River and the downstream Great Miami River.

• Contaminated water may carry harmful germs like E. coli and Cryptosporidium, risking gastrointestinal illness for people and pets.