Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are responding after morning storms caused overflows at two pump stations in St. Louis County.
The Kiefer Creek Pump Station at Castlewood State Park lost power around 6:30am. MSD crews were able to quickly respond and get the pump back online within 30 minutes. An estimated 60,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed into Kiefer Creek, a tributary of the Meramec River, while the pump station was down. The pump station is no longer overflowing and the area is being disinfected.
Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are responding after morning storms caused overflows at two pump stations in St. Louis County.
The Kiefer Creek Pump Station at Castlewood State Park lost power around 6:30am. MSD crews were able to quickly respond and get the pump back online within 30 minutes. An estimated 60,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed into Kiefer Creek, a tributary of the Meramec River, while the pump station was down. The pump station is no longer overflowing and the area is being disinfected.
There was a second overflow, along Goddard and Edison Avenues near Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, where MSD’s pumps were overwhelmed by the downpours and failed. Approximately 100,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed. Two temporary pumps have been installed and pumping has resumed.
Sewer service has not been interrupted and MSD continues to monitor the area for any potential additional overflows. Anyone who sees an overflowing manhole, or experiences a basement backup, should call MSD’s 24/7 customer service line at 314-768-6260.
MSD has placed warning signs in the vicinity of all known overflow locations, advising the public of the overflows. While there is no immediate threat to public health or safety, everyone is asked to pay attention to the signs and avoid the affected areas for the next 24-48 hours, while cleanup and disinfection operations are going on. Anyone who comes in contact with sewage should immediately and thoroughly wash with soap and water.
Pump stations 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 overflows to The Missouri Department of Natural Resources.