By Jacque Day
Metropolis, Ill. – Metropolis City officials are still working to curb sewage overflow after the heaviest discharge month of 2010. Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) through May dumped nearly 7 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the Ohio River. Metropolis is one of about 700 communities nationwide that combine sewage and storm water in the same drainage system. City officials are working on a plan to separate the systems. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency allows for four CSO events in a year. In 2009 Metropolis recorded 46. To separate the drainage systems could take up to 20 years and cost more than $20 million.