Large Construction Projects To Correct Combined Sewer Overflows Are Too Costly

In many U.S. cities, stormwater and waste flow through the same systems. Overflows of these combined sewers from heavy rains allow pollutants to enter waterways, streets, and basements. The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that almost $26 billion was needed to fund the pollution control portion of any project that might undertake to separate the Nation's combined sewers. A report focused on progress in stemming the Nation's combined sewer pollution and flooding problem.

Little progress has been made toward solving combined sewer problems, primarily because insufficient funds were available for large-scale projects. Of the 15 major cities with combined sewer systems that GAO visited, less than half have started construction projects to solve their problems, and eventual completion seemed doubtful for many such projects that were underway. Since sufficient money for large-scale solutions to the Nation's combined sewer problems has not been forthcoming, alternative approaches have been explored which attempt to mitigate pollution and flooding problems through better and more flexible management practices. However, inflexibility in national and State water quality goals, funds allocation, and agency jurisdictions has hampered the pursuit of alternative solutions.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Hugh J. Wessinger Team: General Accounting Office: Community and Economic Development Division Phone: (202) 275-5489