Late Monday evening crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) detected and discovered the Fenton Wastewater Treatment Plant was not operating. The plant is located near the intersection of South Old Highway 141 and Gravois Road.
It is believed that the recent heavy rainfall and the rising Meramec River caused the treatment plant inflow to exceed capacity, which resulted in water overflowing the plant controls and causing a power outage to the entire treatment plant. This plant is designed for 6.75 million gallons per day (MGD) of flow; at the time the overflow occurred, it was treating nearly 24 MGD.
Sewage that would normally be treated at this wastewater treatment plant is not being treated at this time. Sewage is being diverted into nearby rivers and streams.
The public is asked to avoid contact with any flood water or sewage in low lying flooded areas near the plant. If anyone should come into contact with flood water or sewage in this area, they should thoroughly wash with soap and water.
MSD has notified the City of Fenton’s Public Works Department and reported sewage overflow to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as required by law.
MSD will broadly share further information on this situation as it becomes available.