Water Sector News
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City Set To Implement Consent Decree on Longstanding Sewer Overflow Problems
After 14 years of negotiations, it appears the City of Peoria and the U.S. EPA have struck a deal on a consent decree outlining a course for the city to correct the combined sewer overflow issues that have long plagued it.
The city council is slated to vote Tuesday on approval of an agreement with the federal regulator over the longstanding problem, wherein raw sewage flows into the Illinois River following heavy rainfall events.
Each year, the city issues 20 to 30 health warnings following heavy rains for swimmers, boaters, and fishermen downstream of Detweiller Marina, due to the quantities of dangerous bacteria released during a combined sewer overflow (CSO) event.
Though a copy of the full proposed consent decree isn't yet available for review, it would include the city paying a $100,000 civil penalty. If approved, the city and U.S. EPA would outline an 18-year timeline for the city to correct the issues.