Akron is one of more than 700 cities trying to deal with a design flaw created a century ago: When there’s a heavy rain, storm water mixes with sewage and the overflow flushes into lakes and rivers. The city has signed a billion-dollar-plus deal with the U.S. EPA  --  overseen by a federal judge -- to build new tunnels and storage basins to eliminate the overflows.

But it wants to convert phases of the project scheduled to start next year to what’s called green infrastructure… things like raingardens and porous pavement.  Deputy Public Service Director Phil Montgomery estimates that could save the city some $10 million. 

“It’s a better environmental solution at a more affordable cost, which is the goal of the Akron Waterways Renewed program.”  Montgomery says the EPA could approve the smaller changes unilaterally and appears receptive. Bigger changes -- which could be modeled on these -- would require an OK from the judge as well.