Posted inInvestigations

A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet?

Carterville reported 40 sanitary sewer overflows in the past decade. City officials have known for years that a new wastewater treatment plant would resolve the issue. They promised it would be operational by last year. But construction hasn’t started yet. Meanwhile, residents deal with flooding and backed up basements.

by Janelle O'Dea July 15, 2025October 31, 2025

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A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet?

by Janelle O'Dea, Illinois Answers Project
July 15, 2025

<h1>A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet?</h1>
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On December 18, 2024, Aaron Jones stands by the ditch that floods with sewage during heavy rainfall. He thinks if Carterville replaced its wastewater treatment plant, the overflows into his ditch would stop. Credit: Janelle O'Dea / Illinois Answers Project

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Tagged: Carterville, Clean Water Act, Environment, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Flooding, Illinois, sewage, sewer overflows, southern illinois, State Investigations Team, Waste water, Wasted Waters, wastewater treatment plant

Janelle O'DeaState Investigative Reporter

jodea@bettergov.org

Janelle O’Dea is based in St. Louis as an investigative reporter with the Illinois Answers Project State Investigations Team. Her beat covers Southern Illinois and the Metro East. Before joining the Illinois Answers Project, she worked in Colorado, Florida, at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and at the Center for Public Integrity. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and grew up in central Illinois.

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