Raw Sewage Taints Water in Missouri

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage have spilled into Missouri’s waterways in the past year, according to data from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Every time it rains, the runoff increases the threat of bacteria in the water rising to dangerous levels, the Kansas City Star reports .

"We consider this to be a serious problem," said Travis Ford, spokesman for the DNR.

Earlier this year, the DNR made a concerted effort to clean up an E. coli problem at the Lake of the Ozarks . Even though final tests of water samples from the Lake found none with E. coli levels in excess of the federal recommended maximum for swimming areas, officials say E. coli levels are too high at other lakes.

"It's everywhere," said Kathleen Logan Smith, executive director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. "There are hundreds of occasions E. coli levels have been high and we don't even know it."

High E. coli levels forced the closure of several public beaches at a number of recreational lakes in the state over the summer, and over the last two years, water quality officials have recommended closing state beaches at nine lakes besides the Lake of the Ozarks.

E. coli is a large and diverse group of bacteria . Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. E. coli bacteria that are used as markers for water contamination are not themselves harmful, but indicate the water is contaminated.