What Is the NEORSD Member Community Infrastructure Program (MCIP)?
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's Member Community Infrastructure Program — MCIP — is one of the most significant sewer infrastructure funding programs available to communities in the Cleveland metropolitan area and across Northeast Ohio. The program provides grant funding for sewer infrastructure projects that address sanitary sewer overflows, inflow and infiltration, stormwater management, and system capacity improvements within the District's member communities. For communities in Cuyahoga County, Lake County, Summit County, and surrounding areas, MCIP represents a major opportunity to fund critical sewer rehabilitation work that might otherwise remain unfunded for years or decades.
MCIP applications are evaluated competitively. NEORSD scores each proposal on a 100-point scale (with up to 10 bonus points) across five categories: Infrastructure Condition (25 points), Water Quality & Quantity (40 points), Private I/I (10 points), District Benefit (15 points), and Matching Funds (10 points). Communities that provide design-complete project documentation earn a 5-point bonus, and intercommunity collaborative projects earn an additional 5-point bonus. The scoring system heavily rewards applications that are backed by defensible field data — condition assessments, inspection reports, I/I quantification, and standardized documentation that NEORSD evaluators can objectively verify.
This is where EnviroFlow USA comes in. Based in Eastlake, Ohio, we provide the NASSCO-certified CCTV sewer inspection, PACP/MACP condition assessment, I/I investigation, and field documentation services that directly support MCIP scoring criteria. We help Northeast Ohio communities and their engineering consultants build stronger applications and execute funded projects with professional field evidence.
For Northeast Ohio municipal leaders and engineers: EnviroFlow USA helps communities document sewer-system condition, quantify I/I and level-of-service issues, and generate NASSCO-certified field evidence that supports MCIP-funded rehabilitation and compliance projects. Whether you are preparing a new MCIP application, executing an awarded project, or building readiness for the next funding cycle — we provide the field data that scores points. Call (440) 290-1550 to discuss your community's MCIP strategy.
MCIP Scoring Criteria — And How Field Data Drives Your Score
Understanding the MCIP scoring system is essential to building a competitive application. NEORSD evaluators are not just reading narrative descriptions — they are looking for quantifiable, verifiable data that supports each scoring criterion. The communities that win MCIP funding are the ones that show up with documented evidence, not just descriptions of problems. Here is how the scoring breaks down and how EnviroFlow's services directly support each criterion:
| Scoring Criterion | Max Points | EnviroFlow Support |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Condition | 25 | NASSCO PACP/MACP condition coding, defect grading, severity documentation |
| Water Quality & Quantity | 40 | I/I investigation, CCTV infiltration documentation, SSO/CSO evidence, flow data support |
| Private I/I | 10 | Lateral inspections (LACP), private-side defect documentation, IIFA support |
| District Benefit | 15 | System-wide assessment data, capacity documentation, regional impact evidence |
| Matching Funds | 10 | CCTV inspection costs qualify as eligible match (25% minimum non-District match) |
| Design Complete Bonus | +5 | Pre-design investigation data that engineers need for design-ready submissions |
| Intercommunity Bonus | +5 | Multi-community inspection coordination and shared data packages |
Why Water Quality & Quantity Is Worth 40 Points
The single largest scoring category — Water Quality & Quantity at 40 points — evaluates the degree to which a project addresses water quality impairment, SSO elimination, CSO reduction, and I/I mitigation. This is where documented I/I investigation data makes the biggest difference. Communities that can show exactly where infiltration is entering their system, quantify the volume of I/I using RDII analysis, and demonstrate the water quality impact of their sewer defects score dramatically higher than communities that submit applications with general narrative descriptions. EnviroFlow's CCTV sewer inspections produce the visual and coded evidence that makes this criterion provable, not just claimable.
The Nine MCIP Project Categories — And How We Support Each One
MCIP funds nine distinct project categories. EnviroFlow USA provides field investigation, documentation, and support services across all nine categories. Here is how our services align with each one:
1. SSO & Illicit Discharge Elimination
Sanitary sewer overflows and illicit discharges are among the highest-priority problems NEORSD addresses through MCIP funding. EnviroFlow provides illicit discharge investigation and CCTV inspection to identify the root causes of SSOs — structural failures, blockages, capacity bottlenecks, and cross-connections. Our NASSCO-coded inspection data documents exactly where and why overflows occur, giving your application the evidence NEORSD needs to justify funding.
2. Public Inflow & Infiltration Removal
Public I/I removal projects target infiltration through cracked pipes, failed joints, and deteriorated manholes in the public sewer system. EnviroFlow's PACP-coded CCTV inspections identify every infiltration source, grade its severity, and map its location. Combined with flow monitoring data, this creates the quantified I/I picture that scores maximum points under the Water Quality criteria. For communities across Cleveland, Euclid, Parma, and Lakewood, our inspection data shows evaluators exactly how much groundwater is entering the system and where.
3. Private Inflow & Infiltration Removal
Private I/I projects address defects in private lateral connections — the service lines running from buildings to the public sewer main. EnviroFlow provides LACP-coded lateral inspections that document root intrusion, offset joints, broken pipes, and infiltration at the private-public connection point. This data directly supports the dedicated 10-point Private I/I scoring category. For communities in Maple Heights, Garfield Heights, Warrensville Heights, and other NEORSD member communities with aging housing stock, private lateral inspection data is often the missing piece in their MCIP application.
4. HSTS Removal (Home Sewage Treatment Systems)
MCIP funds projects to eliminate home sewage treatment systems by connecting properties to the public sewer. EnviroFlow provides connection verification inspections and system assessment to support HSTS removal applications — documenting existing conditions and verifying post-connection integrity.
5. WWTP Elimination
When communities eliminate local wastewater treatment plants by connecting to the regional system, MCIP can fund the infrastructure. EnviroFlow supports these projects with system assessment, condition documentation for receiving sewers, and capacity verification inspections that demonstrate the receiving system can handle the additional flow.
6. Pump Station Improvement
Pump station rehabilitation and improvement projects require condition documentation of existing infrastructure. EnviroFlow provides CCTV inspection of force mains and gravity sewers connected to pump stations, condition assessment of wet wells, and vacuum truck services for pump station cleaning and maintenance that supports both application documentation and project implementation.
7. Level of Service Improvement
Level of Service (LOS) improvement projects address capacity deficiencies, basement flooding, and surcharging. EnviroFlow's CCTV inspections document the structural and hydraulic conditions that cause service failures — root blockages, collapsed sections, undersized pipes, and sag points that reduce system capacity. Our LSSES (Level of Service Sewer Evaluation Study) support data helps communities demonstrate that their system cannot meet current demand, which scores points under both Infrastructure Condition and Water Quality criteria.
8. Stormwater Management
MCIP's stormwater management category funds projects that reduce stormwater impact on the combined and sanitary sewer systems. EnviroFlow provides stormwater infrastructure assessment, catch basin inspection, and storm sewer CCTV inspection that documents the conditions driving stormwater problems. For communities with combined sewer systems across Cleveland and inner-ring suburbs, this data is essential for demonstrating the stormwater contribution to CSOs.
9. Common Trench Separation
Common trench separation projects address the unique challenge of sanitary and storm sewers sharing a trench — creating conditions where storm sewer leakage infiltrates the sanitary system through the shared bedding material. EnviroFlow provides CCTV inspection of both the sanitary and storm sewers in common trench configurations, documenting the conditions that justify separation. This is a specialized inspection need that requires understanding of how shared-trench configurations create I/I pathways.
CCTV Inspection Costs Are Eligible Match — Your Documentation Does Double Duty
One of the most strategically valuable aspects of the MCIP program for communities is that CCTV sewer inspection costs qualify as eligible non-District matching fund expenditures. Every MCIP application requires a minimum 25% non-District match, and investigation costs including CCTV inspection count toward that match requirement. This means the inspection work you commission from EnviroFlow USA to generate application data simultaneously counts toward your required local match — your documentation investment does double duty.
For communities in Cleveland, Euclid, Brooklyn, Newburgh Heights, and other NEORSD member communities that need to maximize the impact of their local dollars, this is a significant strategic advantage. Instead of spending separately on investigation and separately on match, a single investment in NASSCO-certified CCTV inspection generates the condition data for your application scoring and counts toward the Matching Funds criterion (up to 10 additional points). EnviroFlow USA documents all inspection costs with the detail and format required for MCIP match verification.
What Counts as Eligible Match
Under MCIP rules, eligible non-District match expenditures include CCTV sewer inspection, manhole inspections, condition assessment, design engineering, construction, and related investigation work. EnviroFlow provides detailed invoicing and cost documentation formatted for MCIP match reporting. Our CCTV sewer inspection services include itemized cost breakdowns by pipe segment, manhole, and lateral — giving your finance department the documentation they need for match verification and the District the transparency they require.
Working with Engineering Firms on MCIP Projects
Most MCIP applications are prepared by civil or environmental engineering firms on behalf of member communities. EnviroFlow USA works as the field-data partner for these engineering firms — providing the NASSCO-certified inspection data, I/I investigation results, and condition documentation that engineers need to build strong applications and design effective rehabilitation projects.
Engineers frequently need fast, defensible condition evidence and standardized reporting to support their MCIP submissions. Our deliverables are formatted for direct integration into engineering reports and application packages. PACP/MACP data exports are compatible with common asset management platforms (Cityworks, Lucity, Cartegraph, ESRI). GIS-compatible inspection data maps directly into the spatial analysis that engineers use to demonstrate project scope and priority. Video files, defect photos, and coded reports are organized by pipe segment and manhole for efficient reference.
For engineering firms serving NEORSD member communities in Cuyahoga County, Lake County, Summit County, and beyond — EnviroFlow USA is your field execution partner. We handle the CCTV crawlers, the NASSCO coding, the vacuum truck support, and the data packaging while your team focuses on engineering design, hydraulic modeling, and application narrative. This division of labor produces better applications faster.
Our Engineer Partnership Model
EnviroFlow works under engineering firm direction on MCIP projects. Our typical workflow includes: pre-investigation scoping meetings to align inspection priorities with application strategy, field execution with NASSCO-certified crews, data delivery in engineer-specified formats (PACP exchange, GIS shapefiles, PDF reports, video files), and post-investigation technical support during application preparation. We coordinate directly with your project engineer to ensure our field data supports the specific scoring criteria your application is targeting.
MCIP Application Timeline — When to Start Your Field Investigation
MCIP operates on an annual application cycle. The District typically releases the Request for Proposals in the spring, with applications due in May. However, the communities that submit the strongest applications are the ones that begin their field investigation months before the application window opens. Here is why timing matters and how EnviroFlow fits into the preparation timeline:
12+ Months Before Application
The ideal time to begin MCIP preparation is a year or more before you plan to apply. This allows time for comprehensive CCTV inspection of the project area, I/I investigation during wet-weather conditions (spring and fall are ideal for infiltration documentation in Northeast Ohio), and data analysis by your engineering team. Communities in Mentor, Willoughby, Painesville, and across Lake County that start early have time to generate the depth of data that earns maximum points. EnviroFlow can schedule inspection work around your budget cycle and seasonal considerations.
6-9 Months Before Application
With CCTV data in hand, your engineering team can begin designing the rehabilitation project, analyzing I/I reduction potential, and drafting the application narrative. If you have not started field investigation yet, this is the latest point to begin and still generate meaningful condition data. EnviroFlow offers expedited inspection programs for communities on compressed timelines — but the earlier you start, the stronger your data package.
3-6 Months Before Application
Final data compilation, application drafting, and design completion (for the +5 bonus). EnviroFlow can provide supplemental inspections, verification re-inspections, and data updates during this period. We also begin documenting CCTV costs for match verification.
Post-Award Support — Executing MCIP-Funded Projects
Winning MCIP funding is step one. Executing the funded project successfully — with proper documentation, performance verification, and District reporting — is step two. EnviroFlow USA supports MCIP-funded projects through the entire implementation lifecycle:
- Pre-construction baseline documentation — CCTV inspection of the project area before rehabilitation work begins, establishing the documented "before" condition for performance comparison
- Construction support — Vacuum truck services for sewer cleaning, debris removal, and bypass pumping support during rehabilitation construction
- Post-construction verification — CCTV re-inspection after rehabilitation to verify work quality, document condition improvement, and confirm project objectives are met
- Performance documentation — Before-and-after comparison reports with PACP/MACP coding showing quantified condition improvement
- I/I reduction verification — Post-rehabilitation flow data support to document actual I/I reduction achieved
- Closeout data packages — District-required documentation for project closeout, including updated asset condition records, as-built verification data, and final invoicing for match documentation
For communities across Cleveland, Parma, Euclid, and the NEORSD service area, this full-lifecycle support means one field services partner from investigation through closeout — consistent data, consistent quality, and a team that already knows your system.
Why NEORSD Communities Choose EnviroFlow USA for MCIP Support
- NASSCO PACP/MACP/LACP certified — Our inspectors carry the certifications NEORSD recognizes for standardized condition assessment. Not all CCTV contractors are NASSCO-certified; we are, and it matters for MCIP scoring.
- Local to the NEORSD service area — Based in Eastlake (Lake County), we operate across Cuyahoga County, Lake County, Summit County, and all NEORSD member communities. We know the aging sewer infrastructure in this region because we inspect it every week.
- GIS-compatible deliverables — Our data exports work with Cityworks, Lucity, ESRI, and common municipal asset management platforms. No data translation required.
- Engineer-ready data packages — Formatted for direct integration into engineering applications and MCIP submissions. Your engineer gets PACP exchange files, not raw video files they have to re-interpret.
- Vacuum truck + CCTV + hydro jetting under one contractor — Pre-cleaning, inspection, and post-construction verification from one mobilization. Reduces costs, simplifies coordination, and produces better inspection data (clean pipes inspect more accurately).
- Full MCIP lifecycle support — Pre-application investigation, application data packages, construction support, post-construction verification, and closeout documentation. One partner from start to finish.
- CCTV costs documented as eligible match — We format invoicing specifically for MCIP match verification so your inspection investment counts toward both application data and local match requirements.
- Responsive scheduling — Fast mobilization for communities on tight application timelines. Emergency inspection capacity when unexpected conditions are discovered. 24/7 availability at (440) 290-1550.
Key Takeaways for NEORSD Member Communities
- MCIP is competitive — strong field data is the differentiator between funded and unfunded applications. Generic narrative descriptions lose to applications backed by NASSCO-coded condition evidence.
- CCTV inspection costs count as eligible match — your investigation investment does double duty, supporting both application scoring and the 25% local match requirement.
- Water Quality & Quantity is worth 40 points — the single largest category. Documented I/I investigation data is essential for scoring competitively.
- Start field investigation early — the strongest applications come from communities that begin NASSCO-certified inspections 6-12 months before the application deadline.
- All nine project categories need field data — from SSO investigation to common trench verification, EnviroFlow supports every MCIP category with certified inspection services.
- Post-award execution requires documentation too — performance verification, before-and-after comparisons, and closeout data packages are required for funded projects.
- Engineering firms need a field-data partner — EnviroFlow works under engineer direction to provide the inspection data, GIS deliverables, and vacuum truck support that MCIP projects require.
- EnviroFlow USA is local, NASSCO-certified, and MCIP-experienced — call (440) 290-1550 or schedule a consultation to discuss your community's MCIP strategy.