Combined Sewer Overflows: A Threat to Water Quality in Missouri

Abstract

Clean water is essential to the health and well being of humans and their environment. Pollution threatens surface waters and may make them unsafe for human use. Much of the pollution is from man made sources and, by law, must be regulated to protect water quality. Wastewater discharges from industrial, commercial, and municipal treatment facilities make up a considerable number of point source discharges throughout the country. There are two forms of pollution: point source and nonpoint source pollution. A point source discharge is any discernible, confined, or discrete conveyance of pollutants to a water body. Sewer systems that carry precipitation runoff are another common form of point source pollution. Without proper regulation, pollution sources may limit the attainment of water quality goals highlighted in The Clean Water Act (40 CFR 131, EPA 2004). Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are one type of pollution that has detrimental effects on water quality, and there is a growing consensus that these overflows are insufficiently regulated.