Water runoff and Sewage overflow into Illinois River

Gustav Remnants Bring Overflow into Illinois River

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By WEEK Reporter
By Denise Jackson

Story Published: Sep 4, 2008 at 4:13 PM CST

Story Updated: Sep 4, 2008 at 5:44 PM CST

Remnants of Hurricane Gustav soak Central Illinois communities.

Peoria City officials said heavy downpour all daylong causes overflow of runoff and sewage into the Illinois River.

Civil Engineer Jane Gerdes said during an average rainfall sewers can overflow in six or seven spots along the Illinois River...
With a heavy downpour like Thursday there could be 15 locations overflowing.
Gerdes said, that happens about 28 times a year.
Green technologies are one possible option the city is considering as part of a plan to update the sewage system.

"That's things like rain gardens that soak up rain water, rain barrels, perhaps building with green roofs that soak up water. There's parking lots that can be built with a type of pavement that soaks up water", Gerdes said.

Peoria city officials held a hearing in August looking for public input on cleaning up raw sewage flowing into the river.
They are expected to have a plan completed by December first.
Gerdes says the plan will have measures for reducing overflows from 28 times a year to only twice.

Friday, Sep 5 at 6:08 PM Peoria City Council wrote ...

sewage in the river where we swim and boat? why should we care about that? we need to continue focusing on what is really important to Peoria - A DOWNTOWN MUSEUM!

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Friday, Sep 5 at 11:36 AM TAZ wrote ...

As your question BK, there was not much of a problem until the city started growing and destroying woods and farm land. Those areas soaked up lots of water, but now we had a strip mall that covers acres of land with asphalt where do you think the water is going to go now.

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Friday, Sep 5 at 9:12 AM BK wrote ...

THAT IS NICE TO KNOW...PUKE..WHERE ARE OUR TAX DOLLARS GOING? WHY HAS THIS PROBLEM NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF YRS AGO TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN..OH I FORGOT WHEN IT DOES NOT CONCERN OR AFFECT CITY, OR COUNTY, OR FEDERAL HIGHER UPS THEY DON'T CARE..

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