By Jacque Day
Metropolis, Ill. – The Metropolis City Council approved an amended sewer separation plan Monday night, but not without reservation. According to the proposal, if the city implemented all the outlined projects, monthly residential sewer rates could reach $84 over a course of 15 years. Presently, households pay $25 per month. This proved a sticking point, says Alderman Bill Carrell.
"Although we passed this plan, that doesn't mean that those rates are approved or passed. That will come at a later date. Right now it's something that we have to do to satisfy IEPA, and that's the reason we passed this plan."
Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel says it's unlikely the city would take on every project. He says the intention is to focus on the major components required to get the combined sewer overflow in compliance. The city still must await approval on the requested 15-year timeline.
"If you don't comply, or you don't try to get in compliance, the EPA could very easily come down and say, Okay, you're not trying hard enough. If they cut the time in half, it would be devastating as far as what you'd have to charge for the sewer, because we have to pay the bills."
Last year, the Metropolis CSO discharged untreated wastewater into the Ohio River on 46 separate occasions. The Illinois EPA allows four.