During the evening yesterday, Wednesday, November 13, 2013, MSD crews and contractors completed repairs to a force main break near a pump station located at 2156 Creve Coeur Mill Road in Maryland Heights.
During the evening yesterday, Wednesday, November 13, 2013, MSD crews and contractors completed repairs to a force main break near a pump station located at 2156 Creve Coeur Mill Road in Maryland Heights. (Click here for an earlier post about the break.) This complex task was completed in frigid temperatures within a tight window of time. Many of the staff and contractors involved with this project literally worked around the clock for three days to make the repairs happen. We thank all involved for their professionalism and dedication.
Cleanup of the area will take at least several days to possibly a few weeks. The location of the pump station and source of the sewage that discharged into the area is adjacent to the southern end of Creve Coeur Park. Due to the park’s close proximity, signage will remain in place and the use of biking and walking paths in the southern portion of the park will remain restricted during the cleanup process.
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.
While the final sewage discharge volume is still being calculated, we do know it will measure in the millions of gallons. The number will include the amount of sewage that was discovered on Sunday and the amount that left the force main while the pipe was being excavated and repaired. It is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of this volume – which will be reported to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources – was diverted to an open air retention basin that was built for this very purpose. The sewage diverted to the retention basin is now being returned to our collection system for treatment at the Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Even with the extensive inspection and rehabilitation activities MSD undertakes to properly run our sewer system, events like this will, unfortunately, occur. After all, we do maintain and operate over 9,500 miles of sewers, including 116 miles of force main pipe. It is important that when these situations do happen, we are able to act quickly to contain and mitigate any negative impacts to the environment or our customers. In all instances – but particularly so in this case – such actions are only possible through the ongoing dedication of our staff and contractors.