Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are making repairs to a damaged force main sewer in North St. Louis County. The break is located in a heavily wooded area off Fox Haven Ct., near Spanish Lake.
Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are making repairs to a damaged force main sewer in North St. Louis County. The break is located in a heavily wooded area off Fox Haven Ct., near Spanish Lake.
The break was discovered Tuesday morning, during a routine inspection by MSD. A temporary pipe, that was installed two months ago after a force main break, was damaged by debris during flash flooding. An estimated 50,000 gallons of wastewater has overflowed into Coldwater Creek.
MSD is assessing repair options and taking several steps to minimize any further overflows, including the use of temporary pumps, storage tanks, and vactor trucks that suck up sewage. Any cleanup that is necessary will start by the end of the week, after repairs are complete. Sewer service in the area has not and will not be interrupted.
MSD has placed warning signs in the area, advising the public of the overflow. While there is no immediate threat to public health or safety, everyone is asked to heed the signs and avoid contact with the creek and affected areas. Anyone who comes in contact with sewage should immediately and thoroughly wash with soap and water.
A force main sewer is a pressurized sewer line that uses pumps to transport 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.