https://wvxu.shorthandstories.com/backedup/There's something wrong with the plumbing in Cincinnati. Sewage is bubbling up in our basements and pouring into our waterways. Climate change is making it worse, and the powers that be can't seem to agree on how to fix it. Backed Up is a podcast that demystifies one of the most complex systems of public infrastructure — our sewers — and tells the stories of the people suffering under decades of mismanagement. Your hosts are Becca Costello, local government reporter for WVXU, and Ella Rowen, podcast coordinator for WVXU's parent company, Cincinnati Public Radio. All information can be found at wvxu.org/backedup.en-usStreamGuys Recast© 2025 Cincinnati Public RadioCincinnati Public RadioThere's something wrong with the plumbing in Cincinnati. Sewage is bubbling up in our basements and pouring into our waterways. Climate change is making it worse, and the powers that be can't seem to agree on how to fix it. Backed Up is a podcast that demystifies one of the most complex systems of public infrastructure — our sewers — and tells the stories of the people suffering under decades of mismanagement. Your hosts are Becca Costello, local government reporter for WVXU, and Ella Rowen, podcast coordinator for WVXU's parent company, Cincinnati Public Radio. All information can be found at wvxu.org/backedup.falseserialCincinnati Public Radiorsalerno@cinradio.orghttps://cpr-od.streamguys1.com/Podcasts/20241212163412-90.jpeghttps://wvxu.shorthandstories.com/backedup/cincinnati,sewer,journalism,documentary,waterhttps://cpr-rss.streamguys1.com/Podcasts/backed-up-itunes.xmlThe only thing more surprising than a podcast about the sewer system is a comic book series about the sewer system. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU & @beccacostellonews633ea670-537a-11f0-9df7-71fa68623a3dhttps://www.wvxu.org/podcast/backed-up/2025-06-27/bonus-episode-messed-comics-jay-kalagayan17bonusfalse00:16:1217Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:11:00 -0400MSD serves most of Greater Cincinnati with sewer service, but separate entities are responsible for drinking water and storm water management. Is there a better option? See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf00000190-985a-db64-a9db-9e5fa5bd0000https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/backed-up/2024-07-10/episode-6-the-price-of-progressBecca Costello, Ella RowenMSD serves most of Greater Cincinnati with sewer service, but separate entities…MSD serves most of Greater Cincinnati with sewer service, but separate entities are responsible for drinking water and storm water management. Is there a better option? See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelfEpisode 6: The Price of Progress16fullfalse248716Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:08:00 -0400One of the biggest barriers to progress is, of course, money. The only source of funding for fixing these problems is sewer rates; advocates say the MSD rate structure puts unfair burden on residential customers, while big corporate customers get significant discounts. Plus, county officials are considering a brand new stormwater fee. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf00000190-6fd4-d3e2-a396-efdf96dd0000https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/backed-up/2024-07-03/episode-5-dollars-down-the-drainBecca Costello, Ella RowenOne of the biggest barriers to progress is, of course, money. The only source…One of the biggest barriers to progress is, of course, money. The only source of funding for fixing these problems is sewer rates; advocates say the MSD rate structure puts unfair burden on residential customers, while big corporate customers get significant discounts. Plus, county officials are considering a brand new stormwater fee. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelfEpisode 5: Dollars Down the Drain15fullfalse218915Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:34:00 -0400So if MSD isn't responsible for stormwater...who is? Backed Up looks into "green infrastructure" in Cincinnati, like the Lick Run Greenway, and why MSD doesn’t do more to keep stormwater out of the combined sewer system. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf00000190-4b0e-dfdb-abb7-6b7e647c0000https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/backed-up/2024-06-26/episode-4-go-with-the-flowBecca Costello, Ella RowenSo if MSD isn't responsible for stormwater...who is? Backed Up looks into…So if MSD isn't responsible for stormwater...who is? Backed Up looks into "green infrastructure" in Cincinnati, like the Lick Run Greenway, and why MSD doesn’t do more to keep stormwater out of the combined sewer system. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelfEpisode 4: Go With The Flow14fullfalse202414Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:46:00 -0400Next on the suspect lineup: the rain. Storm clouds are an ill omen for a city with a combined sewer system like Cincinnati. How has climate change affected precipitation trends in the area? What happens to all that stormwater once it enters the MSD system? And what happens to all the stormwater that never even makes it that far? See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf00000190-2d7c-d701-a3b8-6f7fd5340000https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/backed-up/2024-06-18/episode-3-sh-t-flows-downhillBecca Costello, Ella RowenNext on the suspect lineup: the rain. Storm clouds are an ill omen for a city…Next on the suspect lineup: the rain. Storm clouds are an ill omen for a city with a combined sewer system like Cincinnati. How has climate change affected precipitation trends in the area? What happens to all that stormwater once it enters the MSD system? And what happens to all the stormwater that never even makes it that far? See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelfEpisode 3: Sh*t Flows Downhill13fullfalse179713Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:18:00 -0400Now that we know why raw sewage sometimes backs up into basements and overflows in public waterways, why hasn’t it been fixed yet? We examine the first possible villain in this mystery: a political tug of war between city and county officials that began more than 50 years ago. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf00000190-0554-dc33-adb5-5f5db48b0000https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/backed-up/2024-06-11/episode-2-i-now-pronounce-you-msdBecca Costello, Ella RowenNow that we know why raw sewage sometimes backs up into basements and overflows…Now that we know why raw sewage sometimes backs up into basements and overflows in public waterways, why hasn’t it been fixed yet? We examine the first possible villain in this mystery: a political tug of war between city and county officials that began more than 50 years ago. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelfEpisode 2: "I Now Pronounce You MSD"12fullfalse177612Tue, 11 Jun 2024 21:14:00 -0400There’s something wrong with the plumbing in Cincinnati. You might not know about it, even if you’ve lived here all your life. But the people in charge know about it. Actually, they’ve known about it for decades — and some say it was supposed to be fixed by now. In the first episode, our intrepid team of detectives embark on their mission to unearth the mysteries of the infrastructure under our feet.See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedupFind us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf0000018f-df19-d666-afbf-ff5ff7550000https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/backed-up/2024-06-04/episode-1-sewers-gonna-sueBecca Costello, Ella RowenThere’s something wrong with the plumbing in Cincinnati. You might not know…There’s something wrong with the plumbing in Cincinnati. You might not know about it, even if you’ve lived here all your life. But the people in charge know about it. Actually, they’ve known about it for decades — and some say it was supposed to be fixed by now. In the first episode, our intrepid team of detectives embark on their mission to unearth the mysteries of the infrastructure under our feet.See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedupFind us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelfEpisode 1: Sewers Gonna Sue11fullfalse174611Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:01:00 -0400Introducing: Backed Up, a podcast that demystifies one of the most complex systems of public infrastructure — our sewers — and tells the stories of the people suffering under decades of mismanagement.0000018f-9bcf-d299-a1ef-ffff0a400000https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/backed-up/2024-05-21/backed-up-trailerBecca Costello, Ella RowenIntroducing: Backed Up, a podcast that demystifies one of the most complex…Introducing: Backed Up, a podcast that demystifies one of the most complex systems of public infrastructure — our sewers — and tells the stories of the people suffering under decades of mismanagement.Trailer1trailerfalse901Tue, 21 May 2024 11:52:00 -0400