Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are taking steps to repair a force main break near a pump station located at 2156 Creve Coeur Mill Road in Maryland Heights.
Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are taking steps to repair a force main break near a pump station located at 2156 Creve Coeur Mill Road in Maryland Heights. Crews are also cleaning up a related sewage discharge. The location is adjacent to the southern end of Creve Coeur Park, but not in the park itself. As a precaution, MSD – in coordination with St. Louis County Parks & Recreation Department – has restricted access to walking and bike paths in the vicinity of the pump station. Signage has been posted in the affected areas.
Yesterday evening (Sunday, November 10), the St. Louis County Police Department reported water on Creve Coeur Mill Road near the pump station to MSD. Crews investigated and found sewage on the road way and in drainage ditches. Clean up procedures and work to identify the source were initiated. The investigation led to a 42-inch force main leaving the pump station as the source of the discharge. The force main is 5 to 6 feet underground. Work to excavate the force main and visualize the actual problem is underway. Depending on the nature and extent of the problem, repairs could take several days.
While excavation and repairs are ongoing, the pump station is operating, but not at full capacity. An open air detention basin on the property of the pump station is being used to store excess sewage. The volume of sewage that has escaped the force main is unknown at this time.
The public is asked to obey the signage restricting use of the walking and biking paths. If anyone should come into contact with the impacted area, they should immediately and thoroughly wash with soap and water.
The sewer discharge has been reported to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as required by law.