Field of Streams

“Sewers aren’t sexy.” That was advice given to me a few months ago when I was talking about what I consider to be the issues. “You can’t win with issues nobody wants to talk about.” Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one concerned that our current sewer and stormwater system that runs the length of Brookside Boulevard and into Brush Creek is in violation of the Federal Clean Water Act. I’m sure dumping sewage into a stream seemed like a perfectly good idea a hundred years ago but today we know better… Don’t we? Ask the city of Louisville what the consequences are when you ignore an obvious problem and the EPA has to step in and make you fix things. They’re on the hook for a $500 Million project. I’ve seen estimates for our sewer problems surpassing $1 Billion. “The settlement ensures that MSD will make extensive improvements to its sewer systems to eliminate unauthorized discharges of untreated sewage and to address problems of overflows from sewers that carry a combination of untreated sewage and storm water at a cost likely to exceed $500 million. Throughout the year, MSD's sewer systems are overwhelmed by rainfall resulting in unlawful discharges of untreated sewage and overflows of combined sewage into the Ohio River and its tributaries totaling billions of gallons each year.” Sound familiar? Just change “MSD” to “KCMO Water Department” and “Ohio River” to “Brush Creek” and you will be describing the Brookside Interceptor sewer system. The $30 Million we're spending to rip up Huntington is a start, but not anywhere near what needs to be done. It's no secret the EPA has been investigating Kansas City. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away.