PUTTING THE "EW" IN SEWAGE

It is well-known that our nation's system of sewage treatment plants and pipes is aging, with much of it in disrepair. Nevertheless, I was shocked when I was in Mississippi recently and had some time to explore the sewage situation there.

My first stop was to investigate a sewage treatment plant near Jackson, MS. Where the sewage treatment plant flows into a local stream, I found a large buildup of sewage sludge and no signs of anything living in the stream. The stream that was polluted by sewage is connected to a reservoir that is the drinking water supply for the city of Jackson. Unfortunately, I don’t think most people who live in the nearby subdivision have any idea what is happening. There certainly were no signs warning the public about the sewage pollution or that it may be unsafe to swim or come into contact with the water.

On the same trip, I also noticed many private residences that were discharging sewage directly from their homes into a ditch in the front yard. In technical lingo, they call that a “straight pipe,” which means rather than treating the sewage, it is piped straight into the nearest ditch or river, endangering aquatic life and humans who may become sick when they come into contact with the water. These straight pipes are a violation of the Clean Water Act, and a major problem in Mississippi.

Seeing all the sources of sewage pollution in just one small part of Mississippi makes me fear for the people who may unwittingly be wading, swimming, or even drinking water contaminated with sewage. When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do on a hot summer day was to play around in the creek behind my house. I wonder how many kids may be playing in sewage.

Jeff Grimes is Assistant Director of Water Resources.