“SD1 is responsible for the collection and treatment of Northern Kentucky’s wastewater, as well as regional storm water management. SD1 is the second largest public sewer utility in Kentucky with a service area that covers approximately 220 square miles, encompassing more than 30 municipalities and unincorporated portions of Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. SD1 maintains more than 1,600 miles of sanitary sewer line, 143 wastewater pumping stations, 15 flood pump stations, 8 package treatment plants, two major wastewater treatment plants, more than 250 miles of storm sewer and over 17,800 storm sewer structures,” (SD1 website).

As part of the recent expansion of its headquarter’s facilities, the Northern Kentucky Sanitation District incorporated an outdoor environmental education center into the site design. The Public Service Park is an outdoor, interactive, environmental learning center that brings education, wonder and amazement to the banks of Banklick Creek. This one-of-a-kind, innovative facility features a vegetated roof, wetland classroom, storm water garden, watershed plaza, oil/water separator, porous pavements, technology lab, urban forest, and a Native American creek walk.

In 2007 SD1 was awarded a Green Roof Award of Excellence by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities in the extensive institutional category, and in 2003 the project was awarded the KYASLA Award of Honor with Excellence.

The unirrigated 4-inch thick Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky green roof profile is a Roofscapes, Inc. (now Studio Sustena) Type III: Savannah assembly. The plant cover, established from plugs, consists of varieties of Sedum, Allium, and Bouteloua.

The SD1 project was planned with the objective of reducing rainfall runoff and improving water quality, and is being monitored by the Sanitation District to demonstrate these benefits. Green Roof Plants supplied the extensive plants in July 2003.