Sewers

In addition to millions in repairs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice and the state will require the city to pay a $30,000 penalty.

In a court filing, Cahokia Heights residents want a federal judge to allow their claims for damages and claims related to flooding issues to proceed. The city's work with federal agencies is limited to the sewer system and will not address flooding concerns.

Some residents in East St. Louis on Wednesday called on the city to do more as floodwaters lingered in their neighborhood following heavy rains in the Metro East on Tuesday.

To date, only 4% of the money sought for projects to help the city of Cahokia Heights address its flooding and sewage crisis has been spent, according to an EPA analysis.

The coordinator, Beth Murphy, said a key accomplishment — what she calls the “matrix” — details ongoing construction projects, plus future construction and funding, to fix the chronic water issues plaguing the Metro East community.

One proposition will lead to utility bill increases for St. Louis-area residents, regardless of the vote's outcome.

Residents and officials from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency say more support is needed.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth says the infrastructure deal will cover the cost of repairing decades-old problems."

The city has already received half of the money.

University of Missouri scientists have tested about 3,000 wastewater samples from water treatment plants, prisons, veterans homes and colleges and launched an online dashboard that shows where coronavirus concentrations are increasing. The project tests the wastewater of 4 million people, or nearly 70% of Missouri’s population.