Thanks in part to the Clean Water Act, passed in 1972 and revised in 2000, most residents of the United States have continual access to clean, safe water. However, extenuating circumstances may result in pathogens remaining in drinking water – or contaminating swimming water – resulting in potential illnesses. In fact, researchers estimate that up to 20 million people per year become ill due to ingesting pathogens in water. In addition to the environmental impact of untreated sewage reaching waterways, up to 400,000 basements and thousands of roads have been flooded with untreated sewage.
These floods generally occur when the sewer systems are overwhelmed or clogged. A clogged sewage system can result from buildup of leaves, or other debris, including that from illegal dumping.
An overwhelmed sewer system is generally the result of a high volume of water passing through the system. As the population increases, the strain on the system increases as well. Since most municipalities do not have the funds available to upgrade or replace their systems, an aging, inappropriately sized system is all that remains to provide needed water. However, systems are generally able to keep up with demand, except during times of high rainfall. Many sewer systems handle both waste and rainwater through the same system. When a heavy rainfall occurs, the system is overwhelmed, resulting in overflow of sewage. This overflow is often directed into the waterways. Dumping untreated or partially treated sewage into waterways is illegal, but fines are hardly ever levied. The Federal Government may be unwilling to levy fines against municipalities for illegal dumping, especially because Federal funding to maintain sewer systems has decreased significantly. With municipal budgets stretched already, dealing with aging sewer systems just isn’t happening.
However, there are some things that municipalities can do. Green spaces (as opposed to paved areas) absorb rainfall, decreasing the amount directed in to the sewer system. By planning more green space, or better drainage, the amount of rainfall that actually enters the system can be reduced. Additionally, municipalities could redirect rainfall to keep it out of the waste portion of the sewer system. The cost of doing this may make it infeasible; however, calls for Federal stimulus money for repairs to sewer systems may result in municipalities’ ability to finally upgrade their systems.