Fort Smith Sewage System Problems. City will develop a program with EPA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Justice, and the state of Arkansas announced an upgrade for the Fort Smith sewer system which includes collection and treatment system. This upgrade will occur over the next 12 years. The project aims to reduce discharges of raw sewage and pollutants in local waterways. It will cost $255 million, plus routine operation and maintenance expenses. As part of a settlement filed in federal court in the Western District of Arkansas, Fort Smith will pay a $300,000 civil penalty for the Fort Smith sewage system discharges. Furthermore, the city will allocate $400,000 for a program that helps low-income areas repair and replace their privately owned sewer network portions.

“This agreement means cleaner water for the residents of Fort Smith by reducing pollution flowing into local waterways,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA works with communities like Fort Smith to develop cost-effective and pragmatic solutions to protect residents from exposure to raw sewage.”

Workers assessing the sewer infrastructure during an upgrade project in Fort Smith, Arkansas, aimed at reducing sewage discharges into local waterways.

Fort Smith, Arkansas Agrees to Upgrade Sewer System to Reduce Discharges of Raw Sewage into Local Waterways

“This settlement will achieve long overdue improvements in the city’s sewer system that will substantially reduce the number of sewage discharges and help assure that the citizens of Fort Smith reside in a safe and clean environment,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Sam Hirsch for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resource Division.

This agreement addresses the alleged violations of the Clean Water Act regarding Fort Smith’s operation and maintenance. Especially of its sewer collection and treatment system. Since 2004, Fort Smith has reported over 2,000 instances of untreated sewage discharges from its municipal sewage system. This condition has resulted in more than 119 million gallons of raw sewage entering local waterways, including the Arkansas River. Such discharges classify as sanitary sewer overflows. They pose significant risks to water quality and public health. Additionally, Fort Smith has often exceeded permissible limits for various pollutants. This occurs at both the Massard and P Street wastewater treatment facilities multiple times throughout the last decade.

Many of the manholes and pump stations from which Fort Smith’s sanitary sewage overflows occur are in low income and minority communities.

Working on the Fort Smith sewage system. Two construction workers wearing hard hats and safety vests stand on a construction site with large pipes in the background.

Comprehensive Assessment

To cut sewage discharges, Fort Smith will assess its sewer system. It aims to identify defects and locate where stormwater enters the system. Next, the city will repair all sewer pipe segments and manholes likely to fail in the next 10 years. Furthermore, Fort Smith plans to improve its sewer performance. It will implement a cleaning program to remove debris like grease and tree roots. These issues can worsen sewage discharges. Additionally, the Fort Smith sewage system will start a water monitoring program. This program will check if human waste enters and is discharged from the city’s stormwater system.

The implementation of the consent decree will reduce discharges of 3,492 pounds of total suspended solids, 3,343 pounds of biological oxygen demand, 543 pounds of nitrogen, and 78 pounds of phosphorus from the Fort Smith sewage system each year. High levels of these pollutants lower oxygen levels in water bodies. This reduction threatens the health of aquatic plants and animals. Moreover, too much nitrogen and phosphorus accelerates algae growth. This growth exceeds what ecosystems can manage. Large algal blooms can also create hypoxia or “dead zones” in water bodies. In these zones, oxygen levels drop so low that most aquatic life cannot certainly survive.

Overflows and Raw Sewage are Real

Sanitary system overflows and backups of raw sewage onto private property pose risks to human health and the environment. Because untreated sewage definitely also contains harmful substances like organic matter, bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins, and metals. These can cause serious illnesses or even death upon contact. Most illnesses result from pathogens, which are biological agents that cause disease. Common pathogens in sewage include bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Consequently, they lead to various acute illnesses, such as diarrhea and infections.

The EPA targets raw sewage and contaminated storm water. This initiative protects the waters of the United States. To achieve this, the EPA pushes cities to reduce discharges from sewer overflows. It secures commitments for timely solutions. Furthermore, these solutions must also be affordable for communities.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

The proposed settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and moreover final court approval. It can also be viewed at: http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/city-fort-smith-arkansas-settlement.

January 5, 2015