The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "sewage" ...
-
Toxic Time Bomb Investigative Series
An investigation of Nassau County's two major sewage plants finds that the once state-of-the-art facilities are now putting the plant workers, the environment, and the public at risk. Preventative maintenance had not been performed, the gas valves released gas uncontrollably, and conditions were worse than the administrators wanted the public to know.
Tags: gas; mismanagement; pollution; sewage; plant; regulate
-
Low Rates Cost E.M. $2 million
"East Moline, Ill. lost out on more than $2 million over eight years by not charging other municipalities the water and sewer rates approved by aldermen. The city undercharged the municipalities it serves for sewage treatment, and overcharged them for water usage."
-
The Great Lakes: An Endangered Legacy
A series of stories that invesigate how pollution, sewage and foreign marine animals are helping to destroy the Great Lakes
Tags: Great Lakes; Marine Animals; Lake Michigan; Huron; Ontario; Eerie; Superior
-
Wretched Excess
The story investigated the growing industry of municipal sewage sludge recycling, and particularly the practice of spreading sludge on farmland. The story followed a rancher who claims that sewage sludge made him and his family sick, and it reviews the case of a scientist who faced resistance at the EPA to his study of sludge health effects. It showed how science unfavorable to the sludge recyclers was suppressed by the EPA at the behest of the companies.
Tags: sludge; sewage sludge recycling; Environmental Protection Agency; environment; pollution; science; corruption
-
Toxic Offender: Disastrous Sewage Plant Threatens Health
This series documents Twarowski's investigation into complaints of dangerous and unhealthy conditions inside the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Wantaugh, NY. Employees clandestinely videotaped horrendous conditions inside the plant and Twarowski later verified their findings in person. Each visit to the vast plant turned up more safety hazards.
Tags: Environment; pollution; waste treatment; sewage; hepatitis; viruses; public health; OSHA; Public Employee Safety and Health; Department of Environmental Conservation
-
Mebane Water Inequality
The investigation found that poor communities on the outskirts of Mebane, NC had really poor-quality surface water. Furthermore, the city denied any obligation to help residents of these neighborhoods.
Tags: water; public health; contamination; drinking water; sewers; city government; sewage
-
The City Property Tax Mess: How You're Overcharged
New York Newsday investigates the practices of New York's Finance Department and finds that at least 100,000 property owners paid more city taxes than necessary. They investigate the city's flawed method of collecting the taxes and find that it is filled with errors and inconsistency.
Tags: property tax; water and sewage; property owners; Finance Department
-
Cabell tops jail spending
This story investigates Cabell County's spending on jail costs and finds that the county has spent most of their budget on the jail. The amount of spending has also restricted raises, additional hiring, and funding of water and sewage projects.
Tags: state spending; jail costs
-
Biosludge
This story explores whether any health risks exist from the spreading of biosludge on farmland. People in the Green Bay, Ala., area complained that the biosludge, the solid byproduct from sewage treatment plants, was making them sick. Scientists say the practice, while legal, merits further study. Calling the situation a developing public health problem, a former microbiologist with the EPA says biosludge needs to be treated to remove all of the pathogens and not just some of the pathogens as present practices allow.
Tags: biosludge; byproduct; solid waste; sewage; sewage treatment
-
Your Home. Our Sewage
This story uncovers the fact that thousands of Hamilton County residents were dealing with basements that were flooded with storm water and raw sewage following rainstorms. Many homeowners did not report it because of the fear that it might affect the future sale of their homes. However, of the residents who did report the problem, were faced with the fact that no one would accept the responsibility of fixing it. The Metropolitan Sewer District claimed that the responsibility for repairs belonged to the cities. Meanwhile, the cities were claiming that the repair should be done by the Metropolitan Sewer District according to a 1968 contract. After a number of county commission hearings following WCPO's investigation, the MSD finally assumed full responsibility for the repairs.
Tags: basement flooding; sewer damage; Metropolitan Sewer District