By Jacque Day
Metropolis, Ill. – The city of Metropolis has until mid-July to adopt a sewer separation plan to submit to the Illinois EPA. The city's current system combines rainfall runoff with sewage. In May, Metropolis' combined sewer overflow dumped nearly seven million gallons of untreated wastewater into the Ohio River. Mayor Billy McDaniel says the plan will mean a hike in residential sewer rates.
"If we're fortunate enough that they will accept this plan, it will actually give us 15 years to spread this cost at a reasonable amount of increase to the residents. Otherwise, if we're not in compliance, they can mandate your sewer rate."
Mayor McDaniel says through IEPA compliance they aim to break the $23 million total cost into smaller government loans, to complete the process in increments over a 15-year period. Regardless, he says, an increase is inevitable.
"Most of the time when you're dealing with the EPA, they actually mandate that your system be able to create enough revenue to actually pay off the debt."
The mayor says if Metropolis does not comply, the EPA could mandate an accelerated plan, which would mean sharper increases. The city's current system is one of about 700 in the nation that combines rainfall runoff with sewage, discharging untreated wastewater into the Ohio River in times of heavy rainfall.