Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced an agreed consent decree to resolve a lawsuit filed by his office, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) regarding chronic failures in the sanitary sewer systems of Cahokia Heights.
The lawsuit, initiated in 2024, alleged that since November 2019, poor maintenance and outdated infrastructure resulted in over 300 incidents where sanitary sewage was discharged into local waterways, violating the Clean Water Act. The consent decree requires Cahokia Heights to take specific actions to comply with both federal and state environmental laws as well as its state wastewater permit.
“Cahokia Heights residents have dealt with raw sewage in their basements, in their streets and in local waterways for far too long, and this consent decree requires the city to deliver much-needed relief,” Raoul said. “I am proud of my office’s collaboration with federal and local and state entities to find a solution for the neglected and aging sewer systems that caused a real environmental and public health threat. I will continue to partner with all levels of government to enforce Illinois’ environmental laws and protect our communities.”
The lawsuit claimed that Cahokia Heights violated environmental protection laws by not addressing sanitary sewer overflows. Under the terms of the consent decree, the city must conduct extensive repairs, including installing an interceptor between its system and East St. Louis’s system, performing regular cleaning and testing, maintaining emergency response measures, and repairing private sewer laterals for eligible residents.
Additional requirements include hiring four full-time staff members certified by IEPA; developing a rehabilitation plan for sewer conditions; establishing monitoring programs; and implementing a capacity, management, operations, and maintenance program with written procedures reviewed annually by IEPA and EPA.
Within four months, Cahokia Heights is required to create a public communication plan detailing how improvements will be made. This includes scheduling at least two public meetings per year on sewer issues and publishing information about emergencies or repairs. The city must also publish plans prioritizing lateral repairs for residents with medical concerns or expenses, those over age 65, or low-income households.
Located in a floodplain with high groundwater levels, Cahokia Heights faces unique challenges requiring ongoing vigilance from sewer operators to prevent infiltration into its system.
This legal action aligns with Attorney General Raoul’s broader work enforcing environmental protections in vulnerable communities across Illinois. The office operates statewide—emphasizing areas such as consumer safeguards, community safety, environmental conservation—and advocates for groups like seniors through various services as described on its official website. Residents are encouraged to report environmental justice concerns via email at ej@ilag.gov.
Bureau Chief Rachel Medina, Deputy Bureau Chief Christina Briggs, and Assistant Attorney Caitlin Kelly represented Raoul’s Environmental Bureau in this case.
