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Raw sewage backups and chronic flooding have been a decades-long issue in Centreville, now Cahokia Heights. Residents previously filed two federal lawsuits over these issues in 2020 and 2021.
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Officials announced Cahokia Heights would receive $37 million in funding because of failing infrastructure. Over two years later, that money is still to be seen.
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The Illinois Democrat toured homes in the area to see the damage from chronic flooding during heavy rains, which often contains raw sewage.
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The agreement for the state funding includes a requirement for the city to be transparent with residents about how they’re spending the money.
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Residents and officials from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency say more support is needed.
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Residents of the former city of Centreville (now Cahokia Heights) have for years dealt with flooding and sewage overflows. Residents feel ignored — and financially trapped — after decades of inaction by officials.
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U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth says the infrastructure deal will cover the cost of repairing decades-old problems."
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The order mandates the city to submit plans to control sanitary sewer overflows, which can cause water to back up in residents’ homes and yards.
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The city will have to increase its testing and monitoring under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
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Residents say no changes have been made in the year since a previous lawsuit was filed.