CLEVELAND, Ohio — On Saturday morning, as the sun barely pierced through the clouds after a powerful storm, Edgewater Beach, a favorite recreational spot for Cleveland residents, turned into an environmental warning zone. Overflows of the combined sewer system released a mixture of sewage and stormwater into Lake Erie, prompting the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to issue a stern warning: “Do not swim in the water.” This incident, the first in 2025, exposes the vulnerability of the city’s aging infrastructure and raises questions about its ability to protect one of America’s greatest natural treasures.
“This is not just an inconvenience; it’s a threat to health and the ecosystem,” — said Kyle Dreifus-Wells, executive director of the sewer district, at an emergency briefing. A severe storm that hit Cleveland on Friday evening brought over three inches of rain within a few hours, overwhelming the sewer system, which was designed in the 19th century. As a result, untreated sewage, rich in bacteria and pollutants, flowed into Lake Erie, contaminating waters where families swam just yesterday and tourists strolled.
Danger Beneath the Surface
The warning issued for Edgewater Beach prohibits swimming and contact with the water, especially for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The sewer district has begun intensive monitoring, collecting water samples twice daily from ten points — five near the shore and five in deeper waters. Laboratory tests check for levels of E. coli bacteria, an indicator of fecal contamination. The warning will remain in effect until E. coli concentrations fall below 235 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters — a standard set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Health.
“We see how nature reminds us of our limits,” — says Dr. Linda Baeer, epidemiologist from Case Western Reserve University. According to her, E. coli and other pathogens in sewer waters can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, skin infections, and in rare cases, serious diseases, especially if the water enters the body. Residents like 42-year-old Sarah Mitchell, who regularly walks with her children at Edgewater, express frustration: “This is our beach, our lake. How did we get to the point where we can’t even touch the water?”
Aging System Under Pressure
Cleveland’s sewer overflows are not a new problem but a legacy of infrastructure laid in the late 1880s. Back then, a combined system mixing sewage and stormwater was considered innovative, but by the 1970s, it dumped contaminated water into Lake Erie up to 50 times a year, turning it into one of the most polluted bodies of water in the US. Since then, the region has invested over $5 billion in modernization, including the construction of the Northwest Interceptor — a massive tunnel that holds excess water during storms. These efforts reduced overflows to 4–6 times a year, but as the Saturday incident showed, the system still struggles with extreme weather conditions.
Insiders from the sewer district report that climate change is making the problem worse. According to the National Weather Service, the number of heavy rain events in the Great Lakes region has increased by 35% over the past 30 years, overwhelming infrastructure designed for less intense precipitation. “We are upgrading the system, but the climate is changing faster than we can build,” — admitted Dreifus-Wells. The “Clean Lake Erie by 2035” project, which allocates an additional $3 billion for expanding tunnels and treatment facilities, faces bureaucratic delays and political opposition due to high costs.
Environmental and Economic Stakes
Lake Erie, supplying drinking water to 11 million people and supporting Ohio’s $12 billion tourism industry, is not only a natural treasure but also an economic engine. Edgewater Beach, located in Cleveland’s Metroparks, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, from families to water sports enthusiasts. But pollution threatens not only health but also the city’s reputation. “We want Cleveland to be associated with revival, not dirty water,” — says Mayor Justin Bibb, who has promised to accelerate environmental initiatives.
Local businesses, like Edgewater Galley café, are already feeling the effects. “If people are afraid to come to the beach, we lose customers,” — complains owner Zak Carter. In 2014, when toxic algae caused by farm runoff paralyzed Toledo, the region lost $65 million in tourism revenue. Experts fear that recurring incidents like at Edgewater could deter investors and tourists alike.
Path to Restoration
The sewer district promises daily updates on water test results, which will be posted on the website and the Clean Water Cleveland app. Meanwhile, environmental activists like Freshwater Future are calling for broader reforms. “We need not only new pipes but also reduced farm runoff and urban stormwater, green infrastructure like rain gardens,” — says group coordinator Allison Vogt.
For Cleveland residents, observing the calm waters of Edgewater, closed off by warnings, this incident is a reminder of their fragile connection to the lake. While water samples are sent to laboratories and the city grapples with the storm’s aftermath, one question remains unanswered: can Cleveland protect its lake, or is Erie doomed to remain a hostage of outdated infrastructure and a changing climate?
