Government
A Fix for America's Silent Sewer Scourge
Hundreds of U.S. cities still rely on antiquated systems that spew sewage during floods. Here's how one company is trying to change that.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 40 million Americans living in 770 communities, mostly in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Pacific Northwest, still rely on combined sewers.
Why is this a problem? These Victorian-era water management systems collect sewage and stormwater runoff in the same network of pipes. During heavy storms, overwhelmed systems flood streets and basements and discharge a variety of bacteria and toxic chemicals.