Storm Water

Outdated and poorly maintained sewage and stormwater systems have led to chronic sewage backups in communities across the country.

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.

Replacing the sewer line is an essential step in fixing Cahokia Heights' faulty system that's left residents with backed-up toilets, flooded basements and standing water in their yards.

The allegations center around the more than $50 million St. Clair County received from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

The federal agency took similar action to address lead contamination in Flint, Michigan. The goal of the coordinator will be to maximize the federal government’s response to long-standing issues in Cahokia Heights.

Changing rainfall amounts, soil conditions and river levels all complicate the situation, which kicked off with a stretch of dryness this spring.

Projects whose funding was cut run the gamut, including veterinary technician programs at a few community colleges, salary increases for the Highway Patrol, removing vacant properties in St. Louis County and a handful of proposals to mediate erosion and manage stormwater.

In far south St. Louis County, workers are using huge machines to dig a $175 million tunnel. It’s part of a Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District project aimed at preventing sewers from overflowing. That could allow the district to treat all of the region's wastewater and protect the environment.

A stream revival project at Tower Grove Park helps people in the St. Louis region learn about the Osage Nation while keeping rain runoff from city sewers.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is asking its customers to pay a little more for stormwater service in an effort to fix problems caused by…