Citizens of Columbia need to be extra cautious near a local pond the next time it rains heavily.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated More's Lake, a local pond at the Columbia Municipal Power Plant, as "high" potential hazard.
President of the Labadie Environmental Organization Patricia Schuba says this rating comes from the ash, waste and dangers embedded in the pond. She warns that people within a two mile radius are at risk from the potent in the pond if it were to overflow from too much rainfall.
“Most people have no idea the risk that they’re being put at living near one of these sites. So it is important that the public know and that the public have a voice at meetings of especially a municipal power plant which is run for the good of the community and the community has input," Scuba says.
Communications & Marketing Supervisor of Columbia Water & Light Connie Kacprowicz says the department is not only creating a formal operations and maintenance plan for the pond, but constructing tests as well in order to keep local residents safe.
“What we're working on now is some actual soil samples from the bottom of the pond that can give us an idea to make sure that ash flurry can be maintained within that area," Kacprowicz said.
Kacprowicz says that although Columbia citizens should always be aware of a situation like this, there has never been an issue with the pond overflowing or causing harm to the residents of Columbia since its construction in the 1900s.
She says that the Columbia Water and Light department plans on continuing testing in accordance with the EPA in order to keep Columbia residents safe.