Commonfields of Cahokia Public Water and Sewage District

It’s been over three months since Illinois lawmakers requested a federal public health assessment because of residents’ repeated exposure to sewage from broken municipal infrastructure.

Cahokia Heights has still not received most of the millions of dollars that state and federal leaders said two years ago would be available to fix broken infrastructure.

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.

“The arguments were basically that the lawsuit we filed was too long and too confusing for them to respond to,” an attorney for the plaintiffs said. The case is now continuing.

Residents and officials from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency say more support is needed.

The City of Cahokia Heights will face logistical challenges in merging municipal departments and handling ongoing flooding and sewage issues.

79% of voters in Cahokia Heights supported the measure to do away with Commonfields of Cahokia Public Water District.

“I show up. I work. I do whatever needs to be done,” said state Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Centreville, of his role at Commonfields of Cahokia Public Water and Sewer District.

Commonfields of Cahokia Public Water and Sewer District is the public utility for a community plagued by decades of flooding and sewage backing up into resident's homes and yards.