Story Published:
Sep 4, 2008 at 5:13 PM CST
Story Updated:
Sep 4, 2008 at 6:44 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 7:08 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!