One of the benefits of the MSD rain barrel program was selling the rain barrels at cost to our customers. When we started, it was difficult to find a rain barrel in the St. Louis area. Now, they are easy to find. That’s both good and bad. Good because it means more people can have access to rain barrels, but it’s also bad because it means we can no longer offer a competitive cost on rain barrels to our customers.

Since we can no longer be competitive, we’ve decided to put the rain barrel program on hold for now. We are evaluating the future of the program, as well as exploring some other options for green infrastructure programs. We will keep you posted on our decision and how we move forward.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our rain barrel program and helped to make it a success.

The break happened last week near 107 Midland Avenue as the result of a leaking joint in the sewer pipe. The join was damaged by debris in the creek after recent storms. Crews replaced two sections of the pipe and installed rock to cover the area and protect the pipe.

When the break was first reported, it was estimated that approximately 343,000 gallons of untreated wastewater would enter Fee Fee Creek. However, the final report based on more precise calculations found that approximately 270,000 gallons of untreated wastewater leaked into the creek. It was originally assumed the sewer lost its entire flow to the creek, but there was actually only a four inch gap in the leaking pipe joint due to the pipe settling, so not all of the untreated wastewater was released into the creek.   

 The sewer break was reported to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as required by law.

Repairs to the sewer were finished on Wednesday. However, restoration of the street and sidewalk in the affected area will take another two weeks. Traffic will not be impacted by the street and sidewalk restoration, as that work will take place off to the side of where the sewer collapsed.

The collapsed sewer is about 150 years old. The sewer measures six feet by four feet and is about 20 to 25 feet below ground. The cause of the collapse is unknown.

Mr. Faul is an associate attorney with Hartnett Gladney Hetterman, L.L.C. (formerly Bartley Goffstein, L.L.C). He practices law in the areas of workers compensation, traditional labor law, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

 Mr. Faul earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is also a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, and he is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois.

Mr. Faul is a member of Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church in St. Louis. He is married and has a son.

Ms. Patton is the executive director of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative, where she is responsible for the strategic direction and management of workforce diversity and inclusion for the St. Louis business community. She is also an adjunct professor at Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work.

She earned a bachelor of business administration with an emphasis in accounting and management information systems from Howard University. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in management and computer data from Webster University, as well as a master of social work from Washington University.

Ms. Patton currently serves on the boards of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, and the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation. She is a former member of MSD’s civil service commission.

The terms of Mr. Faul and Ms. Patton both expire in March 2017.

Voters in 1954 established a six member Board of Trustees to be the governing body of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. Three members are appointed by the St. Louis City Mayor and three members are appointed by the St. Louis County Executive. MSD’s Board members are trustees of public property and public funds and are responsible to the customers they serve.

Crews are on site today to prepare for the bricklayers who will start their portion of the repair work tomorrow. Crews will work 12 hour shifts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until the work is finished sometime next week. The work is weather dependent.

The westbound lanes of Washington Avenue east of Jefferson Avenue remain closed. Motorists are urged to use alternate routes. . No disruptions to sewer service have been reported and service to surrounding areas should continue normally.

The collapsed sewer is about 150 years old. The sewer measures six feet by four feet and is about 20 to 25 feet below ground. The cause of the collapse is unknown.

The hearing will take place at MSD’s administrative offices located at 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103 (corner of Market Street and Jefferson Avenue). During the hearing, MSD officials will review details of the budget and take questions from the public on the proposed expenditures.

MSD’s fiscal year 2014 budget totals $493.1 million and covers the operating, capital, and debt service needs from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014. Highlights include:

• $4.4 million in incremental budgets tied to the strategic business plan.
• Approximately $3.0 million increase in expenses related to required regulatory treatment plant process additions.
• Total Capital Improvement and Replacement Program (CIRP) budget of $223.8 million.
• Included in the CIRP is $1.3 million to replace the legacy permitting and plan review tracking system in engineering.
• Assumes the issuance of an additional $125 million in bonds from the $945 million bond authorization of June 2012

In addition, the FY 2013-2016 capital program was able to save money thanks to consolidating sewer rehabilitation projects, efficient planning when designing sewer projects, and lower bids than anticipated on sewer projects.

For the current FY 2013-2016 capital program, MSD projects being able to remain within and under budget by approximately $24 million. MSD anticipates meeting all consent decree and expected regulatory requirements through 2016.

For more information on MSD’s FY 2014 budget, please visit www.stlmsd.com.

The cause of the 150-year old sewer’s collapse is unknown at this time. The sewer measures 6 feet by 4 feet and is approximately 20 to 25 feet below ground. No disruptions to sewer service have been reported and service to surrounding areas should continue normally.

On average, our crews clean about 15,000-20,000 linear feet of sanitary sewers per day. The type of debris removed during sanitary sewer cleaning includes tree roots, grease, broken pipes, bricks, mud jack, and plumber’s cable.

We will be performing cleaning work in the following areas during the month of May:

• Bel-Ridge
• Sycamore Hills
• Normandy
• Ferguson
• Overland
• Black Jack
• Creve Coeur
• Florissant
• Kinloch
• Wildwood
• Ballwin
• Unincorporated St. Louis County
• Frontenac
• Ellisville
• Town & Country
• Valley Park

 If you have questions, please contact our 24-hour customer service line at 314-768-6260.

 When the Mississippi River is in flood stage above 33 feet, Bissell Point’s main pipe which uses the force of gravity can no longer be used and the treated water from the plant must instead be pumped into the river. Now that the river is below 33 feet, the main pipe can be used and pumping is no longer required.

The wastewater that was discharged into the river over the past several days has been heavily diluted with stormwater. The daily flows of the river at flood stage have been close to 400 billion gallons per day. The dilution and the amount of water in the river have helped to mitigate any public health or safety risks, as well as any environmental impacts.

The issue began on Sunday, April 21, when two of the three pumps at Bissell Point failed. All three pumps were tested prior to April 21 as part of preparations for the recent excessive rain events in the St. Louis area. All three were found to be working correctly during that test. The cause of the pump failure remains under investigation. The temporary pumps that were installed at Bissell Point will remain in place until the permanent pumps are repaired.

 The pump failures and resulting discharge were reported to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and MSD remains in contact with MDNR.

The lane closure is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Thursday. The lane is expected to remain closed until Friday morning, weather permitting. This work is necessary in order to finish repairs on a section of 42-inch corrugated metal stormwater sewer that collapsed two weeks ago.

 Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes until the work is completed.

The 42-inch corrugated metal stormwater sewer runs underneath all lanes of Hanley Road south of Manchester Road and carries stormwater.  The sewer dates to the 1930s.