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 off Fox Haven Ct., near Spanish Lake, in unincorporated St. Louis County. Sewer services in the area have not been affected.
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 off Fox Haven Ct., near Spanish Lake, in unincorporated St. Louis County. Sewer services in the area are not affected.
The break was discovered Friday morning, during a routine inspection by MSD. Access to the break is hindered by terrain and heavy brush. Work to make the site safe and accessible to heavy construction equipment is underway and is expected to continue through the weekend. At present time the leak is not contained.
As a result of the break, MSD expects to shut down an upstream pump station early next week, so crews can complete repairs. While repairs are being made, MSD will use vactor trucks that suck up sewage to continuously empty the pump station while it’s shut down, and minimize further overflow into Coldwater Creek. Any cleanup that is necessary will commence after the repairs are complete.
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 affected areas. Anyone who comes in contact with the creek should immediately and thoroughly wash with soap and water.
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.
MSD has reported the break to The Missouri Department of Natural Resources as required by law.