A Weirton official estimates repairing a flaw in the city sewer system that allows raw sewage to pour into the Ohio River will cost up to $6 million.
Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni says the city recently discovered that sewage from 1,000 buildings has been pouring into the river for about 50 years. While the city's sanitary sewer isn't supposed to connect with the storm sewers at ArcelorMittal Weirton's steel mill, Mastrantoni says the come together in a mixing chamber built in 1957. The mixture then flows into the river through one of the mill's outfalls.
Mastrantoni estimates fixing the problem will cost at least $1 million and possibly as much as $6 million. Testing at 11 sites to figure out a solution is expected to cost approximately $70,000.
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Information from: The Weirton Daily Times, http://www.weirtondailytimes.com
