The Sewage Treatment Problem in Missouri
W. Scott Johnson
Director, Section of Environmental Sanitation
Division of Health of Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Any attempt to evaluate a problem of this type is meaningless unles,
due consideration is given to the history of the problem, to the progress
made toward its solution, and to the ultimate goal or final solution
desired. The present status can then be compared with the status of,
say, 25 years ago and with the ultimate goal. Although an ultimate
goal will seldom remain fixed because of changes in the various factors
on which the goal is dependent, nevertheless it is necessary to have at
all times some concept of the ultimate aim. With this approach in
mind, data have been assembled and charts prepared covering the history
of sewage treatment in Missouri over the past 25 years, the present
status of sewage disposal in Missouri, and the ultimate goal which it
is hoped can be achieved in the not-too-distant future. These charts
will be presented and discussed later.
Many factors have necessarily influenced the sewage-treatment program. Among these are the lack of suitable legislation, particular physical characteristics of Missouri, federal assistance, legal action against
cities by riparian owners, and limited municipal funds to carry out this
program.
Missouri has no adequate stream-pollution legislation. In promoting the construction of sewage treatment works, therefore, it has been
necessary to depend upon the cooperation of the city officials and to use
a little salesmanship where city officials were not convinced of the need
of these works. To date, the progress in this matter has not been spectacular, as you will see from the prepared charts. On the other hand,
consistent progress has been made, probably as fast as could be justified
under the existing circumstances. In many ways, this lack of adequate
legislation has been beneficial because it meant working closer with city
officials and in turn gaining their cooperation and assistance in other
phases of our health program. This has in turn created an understanding and a confidence on their part in the over-all program of the Division
of Health which might have been lost if legal means had been used to
carry the program forward.   Up to the present time it is felt that the
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