The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) is working to repair a broken force main in Earth City. The break was discovered late Friday night in an industrial area along Rider Trail North. MSD Emergency Response crews responded to a call, identified the issue, and immediately began assessing repair needs.
MSD is using Vactor trucks, which suck up wastewater, to minimize the overflow. Cleanup and disinfection needs will be assessed once the rain subsides and repairs are complete. No significant traffic impacts are expected, and sewer service will not be affected.
Warning signs have been posted in the area, advising the public of the overflow. While there is no immediate threat to public health or safety, everyone is asked to avoid any creeks, ponds or detention basins in the immediate vicinity until everything can be cleaned up. Anyone who comes in contact with wastewater should immediately and thoroughly wash with soap and water.
A force main is a sewer line that uses pumps to move wastewater. Pumps and force mains are necessary when gravity alone is not enough to move wastewater through flat areas or over hills to a wastewater treatment plant.
MSD has reported the break to The Missouri Department of Natural Resources.