ILLINOIS — In many parts of Southern Illinois, residents live with a crisis most communities wouldn’t tolerate: raw sewage flooding homes, schools, and streets after heavy rains — not once, but repeatedly over the years. The cause? Aging, overloaded infrastructure and decades of inaction by state and federal agencies.
Despite decades of promises and proposals, towns like Cairo, Centreville, and East St. Louis still battle chronic wastewater overflows that not only damage property, but also jeopardize public health, environmental safety, and residents’ dignity.
This crisis is not new. Yet despite warnings from residents, media investigations, and federal civil rights complaints, the underlying systems remain largely unrepaired. For many, it raises an uncomfortable question: Why are these communities still waiting for a fix?
A Longstanding Environmental Injustice
The problem is particularly acute in historically Black and low-income communities like Centreville and Cahokia Heights. For decades, residents have described waking up to basements filled with human waste, backyards turned into swamps, and the persistent smell of sewage lingering after storms.
A joint ProPublica and Illinois Answers Project investigation found that in some neighborhoods, stormwater and sewage pipelines — many dating back to the early 20th century — share the same aging channels. That means when it rains hard, the combined system quickly overloads, pushing untreated sewage into homes and onto streets.
In Centreville, which became part of Cahokia Heights in 2021, complaints about this system date back over 40 years. Yet meaningful action only began after lawsuits, civil rights complaints, and national media attention forced the issue into the spotlight.
Health and Economic Toll
The damage isn’t just physical — it’s also deeply personal. Residents like Renee White, a 30-year homeowner in Cahokia Heights, have spent thousands of dollars trying to clean up after floods, with no compensation from the city or state. In interviews, she described skin rashes, respiratory issues, and constant fear during storms.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and EPA have acknowledged the public health risks, including:
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Bacterial infections from raw sewage exposure
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Mold contamination from repeated home flooding
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Increased risk of vector-borne diseases due to standing water
Moreover, flooding impacts property values, homeowner insurance claims, and financial stability, disproportionately affecting Black homeowners and fixed-income seniors.
A Patchwork of Solutions and Delays
To date, state officials have allocated millions in infrastructure grants, including a $21 million capital infusion in 2021 to fix Cahokia Heights’ failing system. But locals say the money has moved slowly, and the actual repairs on the ground remain incomplete or ineffective.
Key developments include:
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Lawsuits filed by local nonprofits and residents in federal court
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Creation of the Cahokia Heights Public Works Department, which took over sewer operations from fragmented agencies
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Ongoing work with state contractors to install pump stations and replace lines
Still, many in the community feel that these steps come decades too late and lack accountability.
“If this happened in a wealthier suburb, it would have been fixed 20 years ago,” said local activist Beverly Johnson.
Funding and Bureaucratic Bottlenecks
One of the largest hurdles has been navigating the layers of government responsible for infrastructure:
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The Illinois EPA provides oversight and grant funds but has limited enforcement power unless health codes are violated.
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The Cahokia Heights Public Works Department is under-resourced and still transitioning from its previous fragmented system.
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The U.S. Department of Justice has received civil rights complaints alleging racial discrimination in the failure to maintain the sewer systems.
A key problem is the mismatch between state grants and federal EPA deadlines. Local agencies often lack the engineering staff or financial planning support to implement projects efficiently.
Questions Being Raised
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Why are federal infrastructure dollars not reaching the most affected towns more quickly?
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Are these delays a form of environmental racism?
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What long-term oversight will ensure the funds are used properly?
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Can homeowners get compensation or tax relief from flood damage?
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What happens during the next major storm if systems fail again?
Impacts on Local Life and Safety
| Community Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Public Health | Rashes, asthma, exposure to sewage and contaminants |
| Home Values | Diminished resale value and home equity |
| City Budgets | Emergency responses drain local resources |
| Youth & Education | Flooded schools, damaged textbooks, interrupted learning |
| Mental Health | Trauma from repeated loss and fear of flooding |
| Racial Equity | Black residents face disproportionate infrastructure neglect |
New Hope: Federal Infrastructure Bill?
The Biden administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act earmarks over $50 billion nationally for water systems. Illinois is expected to receive hundreds of millions, which could be used for long-neglected sewage and stormwater infrastructure.
However, community leaders warn that without clear local oversight, this money could go elsewhere — to newer suburban projects instead of older Black towns that have been waiting the longest.
“It’s time to stop talking and start digging,” said resident and activist Derrick Young, who has documented sewage backflows for over a decade.
How Residents Can Protect Themselves
While the structural fixes remain slow, residents can take several steps to reduce damage and increase accountability:
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Document every flooding event with photos, dates, and written reports
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Report issues to local health departments and IDPH
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Use legal resources like the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council (EHOC)
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Participate in public hearings to demand updates from local officials
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Check if you qualify for home mitigation grants or stormwater backflow prevention funding
Track funding updates and local sewer repair projects via:
Final Thought
What’s happening in Southern Illinois isn’t just a plumbing problem — it’s a moral challenge for the state. It’s a test of environmental justice, racial equity, and governmental competence. No family should have to live in fear of sewage flooding their home.
As one resident put it: “They don’t need more studies. They need to stop the s*** from coming up my basement drain.”
Have you experienced sewage flooding in your home or neighborhood? Share your story with us or get involved by following the latest updates on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com — where local voices matter most.
