Line break dumps 2 million gallons of raw sewage into Mississippi River daily

Authorities say a sewer line north of downtown St. Louis broke last month and is dumping about 2 million gallons of untreated stormwater and sewage into the Mississippi River each day.

The sewer line, owned by the Metro East Sanitary District, broke in May near the McKinley Bridge, said district executive director Steve Adler.

The source of the city of St. Louis’ water supply is upstream from the break so it is not affected, according to Jim Sondermann of the city’s water division.

But the company that provides drinking water for most of St. Clair County residents, Illinois American Water, has an intake pipe just a few miles downstream from the discharge.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/line-break-dumps-million-gallons-of-raw-sewage-into-mississippi/article_3bc46931-e94d-5721-8c8b-412d48976b2e.html