The Center for Disease Control says that wastewater can contain pathogens that are hazardous to humans, including “bacteria, viruses, and parasites.” Additionally, “scientists believe that there may be hundreds more disease-causing organisms in wastewater that have not yet been identified” (McKenzie 19-20). However, while contact with wastewater is always considered dangerous to humans, the majority who contract pathogens from the sewage may never show symptoms of the underlying infection or disease (McKenzie 20). The hazardous nature of raw sewage implies that its presence alone could be devastating to the health of the surrounding community, especially in a place that is as frequently visited as, for example, a metropolitan park. Unfortunately, the city of Louisville is currently facing the problem of a combined sewer overflow that is leaking raw sewage into Beargrass Creek, which flows throughout the city. But most importantly, it flows through Cherokee Park, and right underneath Big Rock, which is a local landmark. According to the Metropolitan sewer District’s 2005 report of the Beargrass Creek watershed, “Currently, Beargrass Creek is in critical condition, failing to meet the state water quality standards. It is considered unsuitable for fishing or swimming” (4). In this paper, I will discuss the flaws in the original structure of the sewer system, as well as the destructive consequences that free floating, raw sewage can inflict on the surrounding wildlife and visitors to the park. Furthermore, I will examine the possible solutions to eliminate the problem of hazardous sewage water, including previous attempts to eliminate its effects in similar situations in various cities. Through this detailed analysis, it will become inherently obvious that the city of Louisville cannot continue to allow the water in the park to be contaminated. The existence of the randomly active combined sewer overflow threatens and disfigures the clean and natural atmosphere of Cherokee Park, including Big Rock and Beargrass Creek.
The Appeal of the Park
The setting of Cherokee park, which is significant to understand in order to truly appreciate the gravity of having contaminated water running through it, is one of intricate expanse and plenty of natural reservoirs. Big Rock is only a brief hike back into the woods, however, upon arrival, the surreal atmosphere and the expanse of greenery provides a unique hideaway away from the rest of the world. The dominant silence allows the mind to wander without distraction. Being here brings an overwhelmingly peaceful state of mind. As the cool water flows gently but forcefully over the rocks, the sun shines tenderly creating a warm, pleasant feeling that envelops the body. The sweet smell of fresh flowers blows gently through the air and the songs of birds and other wild animals sing a beautiful chorus that is music to the ears. This tranquil environment promotes relaxation and calms both the mind and the body. This place provides a brief escape from the everyday hassles of life, and because of the overwhelming presence of new growth, it is effortless to be consumed with the beautiful simplicity of nature and wildlife.
When describing the emotional impact that Cherokee park has had on him, Bill Wolfe, a Louisville reporter for Hello Metro, said, “The expanse of greenery and recreational amenities seems a world unto itself" (1). Due to this strong appeal, it is understandable that it is estimated that “The park draws nearly 500,000 visitors per year" (Wolfe 1). Indeed, many people are drawn to the place created by the father of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed various parks throughout the United States including Louisville’s own Cherokee Park. In regard to the impact that nature has on his emotions, Olmsted once said,
If we analyze the operations of scenes of beauty upon the mind, and consider the intimate relation of the mind upon the nervous system and the whole physical economy, the action and reaction which constantly occur between bodily and mental condition, the reinvigoration which results from such scenes is readily comprehended… the enjoyment of scenery employs the mind without fatigue and yet exercises it; tranquilizes it and yet enlivens it; and thus, through the influence of the mind over the body gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system (5).
He believes that our mind and body are rejuvenated by the beautiful and pure nature of scenes of wildlife. However, not every aspect of Cherokee Park is as pristine as it may seem. Various signs posted throughout the park warn visitors of the possibility of toxic levels of contaminations in the water of Beargrass Creek.
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| This is an example of the signs that are posed in the park to warn visitors of the contaminated water |
The Problem
To understand the problem of contaminated water that is currently facing the city of Louisville, it is important to look at the origins of the sewer system. According to the Metro Sewer District of Louisville, or MSD, one of the most troublesome aspects of the city’s inherited sewer system is that it includes combined sewers, which the Commisioners of Sewerage originally created to safely and effectively deal with the sewage from the city. These combined sewers are designed to "carry both wastewater and storm water in the same pipe" (“MSD History” 3). However there is one major problem with this policy, which is that the pipes were not equipped to deal with high intensity flow of water. "During heavy rains, the combined sewers become overloaded. The interceptor lines spill their mixture of storm water and wastewater through combined sewer overflows designed for the purpose" (“MSD History” 3). As time has passed, however it has become evident that the combining of storm water and wastewater is creating many problems throughout the system. MSD says that, "Untreated sewage is dumped into the streams when heavy rains overload the sewer lines, and partially treated wastewater has to be dumped into the streams and the river when heavy rains overload the treatment plants” (“MSD History” 8). The original structure of the combined sewer system did not contain the capacity to handle the flow of future, larger populations, like that of the city of Louisville.
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| Above is the portion of Beargrass Creek that runs through Cherokee park. (See image 1) |
The total amount of untreated sewage that is being released is greatly amplified by a growing population. Indeed, in “Retrospective of Ecological Approaches to Excess Sludge Reduction,” Anwar Khursheed and A.A. Kazmi, say that “Ecological imbalances are the fallout of economic and industrial development; the problem is particularly pronounced where the populations are large and increasing exponentially” (4302). This proves to be true for the city of Louisville. According to the United States Census Bureau, the population of Jefferson County, Kentucky has increased by 6.8% in the last ten years; from 693,607 people in 2000 to 741,096 people in 2010 (Jefferson County Quick Facts 1). Furthermore, the city of Louisville was recently promoted to the United States’ sixteenth largest city (Louisville, Kentucky Facts). It is clearly comprehensible that a rapid growth of population of this magnitude would greatly increase the amount of raw sewage entering the sewer system, which in turn, would increase the amount of untreated sewage that is overflowing into the streams of Beargrass Creek, and eventually, the Ohio River. Because of the increase of contaminating substances entering the water, it is clear that due to the high levels of annual visitors to the park, there is also an increased concern for the health and well being of the community of Louisville.
| Point Sources in the Beargrass Creek Watershed. | |||||
| Sanitary Sewer Overflows | Combined Sewer Overflows | Storm Water Outfalls | General Permittees | Significant Industrial Users | Wastewater Treatment Plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recurring: 20 Investigated: 17 Eliminated: 0 | 59 | No.Sampled: 2001 Total: 1,310 Contaminated: 17 | 21 | 20 | MSD: 0 Private: 7 |
The Consequences
Coming in contact with raw sewage can be severely dangerous to a person’s health because it contains multiple forms of disease-causing pathogens. The Indiana Department of Health has outlined a list of fifteen major health concerns caused by contact of sewage or sewage-contaminated water. Some examples include disease from the microscopic parasite Cryptosporidiosis Parvum and Giardia Intestinalis which can both “survive outside the body for long periods of time,” and other well-known infectious bacteria, such as E.Coli and Salmonella (1). The vast majority of these diseases have their greatest impact on the digestive system of the human body. Also, the risk of illness from coming in contact with contaminated water increases exponentially for infants, elderly, and those individuals with compromised immune systems. Indeed, it is clear that because of the hazardous nature of this material, its presence in an urban setting could wreak havoc on the community.
In addition to being harmful to humans, raw sewage can also have a profound negative impact on the ecological system of aquatic life. Overflowing combined sewers can be detrimental to this ecosystem because the raw sewage deposits excessive amounts of certain chemical elements into the water. This, in turn, will decrease water quality and reduce the oxygen in the water, eliminating plant and animal food sources and consequently the population of aquatic life. As one expert explains, “The toxins coming from untreated sewage water which is drained off into the various water forms are consumed by aquatic organisms. So, it is very possible that the food chain will be jeopardized due to these toxins” (The Consequences of Sewage Damage Disasters 1). Certainly, the sole purpose of a metropolitan park is to preserve the nature and wildlife within; however, due to the contamination of the water of Beargrass Creek, the nature and wildlife are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Although they may have seemed to be an effective solution at the time, combined sewer systems and the resulting overflows today present dangerous situations that threaten both human and aquatic life.
The Solution
Now that there is a clear understanding of combined sewer overflows and the way that they have impacted the city of Louisville and its remaining natural reservoirs, it is imperative to create and implement an effective solution to prevent and eliminate them from overflowing. However, this is much easier to say than to do because each system designed specifically to accommodate the specific area and therefore, each solution must also address the region’s unique problems. According to MSD, “Restoring urbanized streams is often difficult because of the complex nature of impacts, the cost associated with many of the solutions, and the difficulty predicting the environmental benefit of various solutions” (Wet Weather & Water Quality 1). Because this problem is continuing today, clearly there is no simple solution. Therefore, to effectively impact water quality of Beargrass Creek, the plan must approach the problem from various aspects and use multiple techniques to ensure the abolition of overflows from the combined sewer system.
The first and most obvious step, of course, would be to follow the traditional infrastructure-based management measures by completely replacing and updating the sewer system. This includes separating waste water from storm water, while providing the new pipes with more than enough capacity to handle the flow, expanding treatment facilities, and installing further and more thorough “treatment measures within the collection and treatment system” (Wright 436). For example, water environment researchers suggest the implementation of a deep, large-diameter underground pipe to provide storage for better control combined sewer system (Wright 439). However, this is far from the most cost efficient solution, because while failing infrastructure is certainly at the base of the continuation of the problem it will be both expensive and time consuming, as addressing only the piping immediately around Beargrass Creek will do little to solve the problem for the city as a whole.
This plan fails to address the damage that has been inflicted already on the environment.
Furthermore, the combine sewer system of Louisville is unique and complex, and the overflow of pipe capacity as a result of combining storm and sewage water is not the only problem. Many of the homes around the Highlands area have downspouts, which collect falling rainwater and transfer them directly into the combined sewer system. Because there are nearly 900 houses that drain storm water in this manner, it is not difficult to understand why the combined sewers are frequently overflowing in the Cherokee Park area. MSD is currently in the process of attempting to disconnect those houses with downspouts, and estimate that the completion of the project would result in closing the combined sewer overflow. While this is more cost-effective than replacing all Highland area property, it is only a piece of the problem in the Highlands area and certainly the same theory applies in the Louisville areas surrounding other natural reserves and parks.
In order to combat the damage that has already been done to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife in places like Cherokee Park, efforts should be made to restore natural habitats. While only increased effectiveness in water treatment can eventually restore water quality, it is certainly the responsibility of the community to help recreate the purity of the environment and atmosphere that they indirectly destroyed. In adding more plant life, by planting trees, adding natural fertilizer, and keeping the park litter free, the Highlands community can make a difference in bringing more natural life back to the park, which, combined with healthier water, will create an even lusher experience for the future generations of park-goers in Louisville.
Conclusion
Natural parks, like Cherokee Park, are a traditional and historical part of our country’s culture. Americans pride themselves on having conquered the wilderness of North America and have made efforts for centuries to preserve the natural look and feel of our land. Ignoring highly dangerous and hazardous human bi-products like sewage-contaminated water will have detrimental effects on our communities in the present and future. For this reason, it is imperative to rebuild sewerage infrastructure, increase water quality and quantity treated at water treatment and filtration facilities, and do what is possible to restore natural habitats. Clearly, continuing to ignore the problem of water contamination in streams, rivers, and even eventually oceans will only weaken ecosystems from the bottom of the food chain up. Not to mention, it will most certainly eliminate the peace of mind that comes from escaping into nature.
Works Cited
"ISDH: Diseases Involving Sewage." IN.gov. Web. 27 July 2011.
"Jefferson County Quick Facts from the US Census Bureau." U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts. 03 June 2011. Web. 27 July 2011
Khursheed, Anwar, and A.A. Kazmi. "Retrospective of ecological approaches to excess sludge reduction." Water Research 45.15 (2011): 4287-4310. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 27 July 2011.
“Louisville, Kentucky Facts.” Economic Expert. Web. 27 July 2011.
McKenzie, Caigan. "CDC Looks at Links Between Wastewater and Dissease." CDC.gov. The Center for Disease Control. Web. 27 July 2011.
"MSD History." Welcome to MSD. 19 Oct. 2010. Web. 27 July 2011
Olmsted, Frederick Law. "Yosemite and the Mariposa Grove: A Preliminary Report."Yosemite Online. 1865. Web. 27 July 2011.
Table 1: "WWWQ – Beargrass Creek Watershed." Metropolitain Sewer District. Web. 29 July 2011
"The Consequences of Sewage Damage Disasters | Flood Water Damage Cleanup." Flood Water Damage Cleanup - Restoration - Michigan, Florida, Iowa. 11 Oct. 2010. Web. 28 July 2011
Water Quality Status Report. Rep. Limno-Tech, Inc., 28 Feb. 2007. Web. 20 June 2011.
"Wet Weather & Water Quality Program." Metropolitan Sewer District. 28 Jan. 2010. Web. 28 July 2011.
Wolfe, Bill. "Cherokee Park Louisville: Nature's Treasure Around Every Bend." Hello Louisville. 26 Mar. 2010. Web. 20 June 2011.
Wright, Steven J., Saad Ghalib, and Aziz Eloubaidy. "Treatment Shaft for Combined Sewer Overflow Detention." Water Environment Research (10614303) 82.5 (2010): 434-439. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 28 July 2011.
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