Environmentalists Look for Solution to Waste Sewage Problem

Missouri has a $5-Billion problem with its sewage treatment plants. The Natural Resources Department says aging and inadequate plants need updating and repairs, and new plants need to be built to keep poorly-treated sewage from geting into public water supplies. Senior project Coordinator Doug Garrett says communities can do some things to take some stress off their plants. A new plan to attack the problem nationally is expected to go to Congress soon. It will focus on creating sewage treatment plants capable of dealing with surges of water from heavy storms and would allow untreated wastewater to be diverted around treatment plants only if there is no feasible alternative.