Combined Sewer Overflows in Missouri: Costs and Alternative Approaches

Abstract

Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are detrimental to water quality in Missouri and pose a significant health risk to humans. The effects of CSOs are not yet fully known and there is an ongoing effort to quantify their impacts. The prospect of correcting the problems posed by CSOs is a daunting task that will force decisions affecting CSO communities economically and socially. Currently, the State of Missouri does not provide a regulatory framework for effectively addressing CSOs (See Report 27-2005 for more detail).