Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are making repairs to an underground force main sewer break in North St. Louis County.
The location of the break is along Silver Fox Drive in Unincorporated St. Louis County. Repairs on the force main began Monday morning. Sewage from the break has been contained and is no longer leaking at the break. As a result of the force main break, MSD has shut down a pump station upstream of the break to allow for necessary repairs. Sewer service to homes and businesses in this area has not and will not be affected.
Shutting down the pump station, located approximately ¾ mile west of the MO-367 Bridge over Coldwater Creek, has caused an overflow of sewage into Coldwater Creek.
Potentially affected areas include:
• Coldwater Creek immediately south of Silver Fox Drive in Unincorporated St. Louis County
• Coldwater Creek immediately north of Verwood Drive and Fox Haven Drive in Unincorporated St. Louis County
• Coldwater Creek northwest of the MO-367 bridge, including trails that run along the creek near Fort Belle Fontaine County Park.
• Other portions of Coldwater Creek downstream (east and northeast) of the pump station.
MSD is placing warning signs in these areas, advising the public of the overflows. While there is no immediate threat to public health or safety, the public is asked to heed the signs and avoid contact with the affected areas. If a member of the public should come in contact with these areas, they should immediately and thoroughly wash with soap and water.
If a member of the public should come across what they suspect to be an overflowing manhole, they should contact MSD’s 24-hour Customer Service Center at (314) 768-6260.
The force main break was reported to MSD Sunday afternoon by Missouri American Water after they responded to a call for a water main break and determined that it was a sewer line.
A force main sewer is a sewer line through which wastewater is propelled by the force of pump stations located along the path of the sewer. Pump stations are sometimes necessary to overcome gravity and allow for the transport of wastewater to area treatment plants.
The force main sewer break and associated overflows at the manholes have been reported to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as required by law.