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Dozens of IL Towns Must Curb Sewer Overflows
CHICAGO (AP) -- Pollution in Illinois waterways has improved dramatically but state and federal environmental officials say it's still not good enough.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says too many cities still have antiquated sewer systems that route sewage and storm water through the same pipes, causing them to overflow during heavy rains.

Communities from Chicago to Belleville to Galesburg to Peoria are submitting plans for how they will limit overflows in the future. All plans must be submitted by the end of September.

Solutions range from cavernous underground tunnels in Chicago that hold storm water until it can be treated to large lagoons and separating sanitary and storm sewers in other communities.

Overflows occur in 121 Illinois communities, contaminating water with harmful bacteria and making waterways unsafe for swimming and other activities.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
06 25 11 by Newsroom
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