OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg officials are asking residents to keep lawn clippings and other debris out of the roadway to reduce the strain on the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

In a public update, officials explain that the City of Ogdensburg and surrounding areas are served by separated and combined sewer systems. They convey sanitary sewage and storm water to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) at Railroad Street before being discharged to the river.

During heavy rainfall events, the combined sewage and storm water flows can exceed the capacity of the collection system at the WWTP and overflow directly to the receiving waters at permitted locations on the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie rivers.

Officials say that when substantial rainfall occurs, debris such as clippings blown into the streets can enter the storm water collection system and combine with the sanitary sewer system, putting strain on the plant and local waterways.

Items such as paper, leaves, tree branches, mowed grass clippings add costs to the treatment plant process and can reduce the lifespan of equipment at the plant.