OWENSVILLE — Progress in the city’s Wastewater Collection System Rehabilitation project has been made with the recent passing of Bill 2026-03, authorizing Owensville Mayor Kevin McFadden to take the steps necessary to execute the agreement the work with Donald Maggi, Inc.

The $831,585.83 wastewater project is a part of a larger, ongoing need for the city to improve its wastewater system as required by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The issue received a renewed focus when the Abatement of Consent (AOC) faced expiration December 2024.

“The problem we have now is that when it rains, groundwater (and) rainwater enter our collection system and overwhelm the collection system and the wastewater treatment facility,” former City Engineer Travis Hernandez said at that time.

The expiration followed a five-year extension that had been granted to the city in 2019 following enforcement action by the DNR that resulted in a five-year AOC that provided protections to the city while it worked on eliminating infiltration and inflow within the collection system. The project will continue to address any potential sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) or bypass risks. According to Hernandez, the city has been slowly making progress over the last 10 years.

According to the DNR, sanitary sewers collect and transport wastewater, stormwater and groundwater to treatment facilities and occasionally release untreated or partially treated sewage into the environment resulting in a SSO. The DNR mandates that any SSO or bypass event must be reported within 24 hours of being discovered.

DNR lists potential problems that can cause SSOs being inappropriate materials sent to the sewers, tree roots entering through defects or openings in a sewer line, leaky sewers, inappropriate connections, improper or inadequate maintenance and cleaning of sewers, inadequate pump maintenance and lack of backup power, undersized sewers and pumps as well as equipment failures and breaks.

Due to raw sewage potentially carrying bacteria, viruses, parasitic organisms, worms and inhaled mold and fungi, DNR warns SSOs can expose individuals to the risk of sewage in drinking water sources, harvested shellfish being contaminated and more leading to diseases such as mild cases of gastroenteritis, life-threatening ailments, property damage and environmental issues.

Included in the original bid for service provided by Donald Maggi, Inc. were sections of wastewater collection between Apple and Pear avenues from Oak Street to Maple Street, Marvin Avenue to the alley between Harrison and Marvin Avenue west of Cuba Street, backyards on Springfield Road and Walnut Street, Walnut Street to Circle Drive and south of Marvin Avenue and Second Street along with alternates Peter’s Avenue to Hickory Street (base) and Moore Avenue from Fourth Street to Second Street as well as Peter’s Avenue to Hickory Street (yard leg) and the alley south of Moore Avenue and Second Street.