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In the next few weeks if as anticipated Liberty is successful in getting a $1.5 million grant for sewer improvements as part of a federal stimulus package, the City Council is going to have some serious decisions to make, like where to come up with a $1.5 million match.

That $3 million could help address some of the city’s pressing problems with its sanitary sewer system. Millions of dollars more are needed, though, to correct long-standing sanitary sewer issues and to prepare for future development.

Since it has been estimated that it would cost the city $20 million to $30 million to build its own sewer treatment facility, that does not seem to be a viable option at this time. We’re better off working with Kansas City and other surrounding cities to deal with this regional need.

The problems with Liberty’s aging infrastructure systems have been dramatically exhibited lately, especially after heavy rainfalls. Following a 5-inch deluge in May, a hatch at the malfunctioning Little Shoal Creek pump station off Withers Road blew open, spewing thousands of gallons of raw sewage onto private property. The debris, clinging to a fence, included thousands of shredded plastic bags, pop containers and condoms that don’t decompose very quickly. How all that plastic got into the sewer system remains a mystery.

What is known is that it will take an estimated $4 million to $5 million to remove the troublesome pump station and build a two-mile pipeline to hook into Kansas City’s system.

At the present time, Kansas City owns and maintains the pump station, but under an agreement reached years ago between Liberty and Kansas City, Liberty has an obligation to take it over at some point. Of course, that is not wise until problems with that pump station are resolved.

Meanwhile, Liberty pays Kansas City approximately $3 million a year to treat its sewage. That cost is likely to increase as Kansas City grapples with a federal mandate to overhaul its own aging system at an estimated cost of $2.4 billion.

Kansas City and Liberty are both well aware that most of the sewage flowing into the pump station off Withers Road in Liberty is coming from the Shoal Creek Valley area in Kansas City. With all the development happening on the west side of Interstate 35, things could get worse as more development comes and more toilets are flushed.

But the pump station is not the only problem. Just a couple of weeks ago an 80-foot section of a 24-inch pipeline fell apart, allowing stream water to infiltrate the sanitary sewer system and flow to Kansas City for treatment. Moreover, the sewage is contaminating the waterways, potentially harming wildlife and the environment.

Earlier this year a 200-foot section of pipe under Water Street collapsed and had to be replaced. Who knows what all is going on underground as water infiltrates the system and the ground heaves and contracts. We do know that when there’s a failure, it has to be fixed immediately, even if the city has to borrow the money.

Which brings us back to where to find the $1.5 million for the grant. Some funds have been set aside in the capital fund for the Flintlock Flyover and second phase of South Liberty Parkway. Maybe the matching grant money could be temporarily borrowed from there.

It’s worth looking into. Liberty cannot afford to lose $1.5 million for sewer improvements without looking at every conceivable option.

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