Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are making repairs after a sewer main break near Missouri Bottom Road and Dunn Road in Hazelwood, Missouri. The 15-inch sewer main is currently leaking into an unnamed creek that flows into the Missouri River. While an exact cause for the break has not yet been determined, it appears creek bank erosion caused by recent heavy rainfall may have weakened the soil under the pipe, causing the sewer main to “roll out” from the bank.
The gravity sewer main break was reported Tuesday afternoon by a private citizen. MSD has started repairs to the sewer main and will be ongoing.
MSD crews are constructing a dam in the creek to contain the sewage and are pumping the sewage back into the sewer. It is estimated that over 240,000 gallons of sewage entered the creek, impacting approximately a mile of creek.
MSD is placing warning signs in these areas, advising the public to avoid contact with affected section of this creek. While there is no immediate threat to public health or safety, the public is asked to avoid contact with the creek in this area while MSD crews make the necessary repairs and cleanup the affected area. If anyone should come into contact with the creek in this area, they should immediately and thoroughly wash with soap and water.
The sewer main break was reported to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as required by law.