The Saint Louis Sewer System

In researching what's under the streets, I was shocked by what I found contained in information about our sewer system. Can you imagine 330 million gallons of water and sewage a day, the dilemma, and where to put it? We all go to the ball games, theater, breweries and other downtown venues and most of us have to stop for a bathroom break. Add that bathroom and services usage, to 300+ thousand residents of the city and 900+ thousand county residents waste. Compound that problem with inches or snowmelt or rain overflow. There are 9,600 miles of pipe under our feet in the outdated sewer system. Over 50 times a year 13 billion gallons of sewage-contaminated rain water goes into Mississippi river. (Politico) Years past it all went right into the Mississippi River.

According to a recent article in Politico, efforts are being made to insure the waste water and contaminated storm water does not reach the river. ( Project Clear) This 500 Billion dollar update to the sewer system network for the city and county will add 28 miles for holding tunnels to store the waste 175 feet under ground.

(Right)Shows the magnitude in size of wastewater pipes.

You can take a tour of the 7th largest sewer system in the United States (Below). It will be worth seeing.

In the meantime let's travel to my favorite part of the underground.