St. Louis projects will resolve wastewater and stormwater sewer issues

Voters in St. Louis have approved two propositions that will allow the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) to issue $750 million in bonds for critical sewer system improvement projects and create a regional stormwater improvement program.

MSD oversees the fourth-largest sewer system in the country, spanning more than 9,600 miles. The sewer system is also one of the oldest and will require a massive effort to bring the system up to compliance with the Clean Water Act. To that end, MSD initiated Project Clear in 2012 – a $7.2 billion, 28-year plan to upgrade, repair and modernize the sewer system.

MSD Project Clear is a long-term initiative to improve water quality and remediate wastewater concerns in St. Louis. Currently, MSD has completed more than 650 system improvements, eliminated 85% of overflows and reduced backups by 25%.

Proposition W will allow MSD Project Clear (MSDPC) to issue $750 million in bonds to support the next four years of work. The bonds will enable MSDPC to design, build, improve, renovate, repair, replace and equip new and existing wastewater infrastructure. This work is essential for MSDPC to complete $3.7 billion worth of wastewater system improvements over the next 15 years.

Proposition S will enable MSDPC to resolve $700 million of known stormwater issues in the St. Louis region. MSDPC will create the first regional stormwater improvement program to help resolve persistent problems such as flooding and erosion. The money will come from a property tax for residential customers and an impervious surface fee from non-residential customers.