The City of Keokuk is moving to upgrade an outmoded sewer system that sends millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Mississippi River and its tributaries each year.

The city has made an agreement with EPA region 7 to gradually upgrade the system over the next 20 years.  Under the agreement, Keokuk will submit a long-term control plan to EPA and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by December 31, 2012.

Once approved by the EPA and IDNR, Keokuk must complete all terms of the order no later than December 31, 2030.

Estimates of the plan’s total cost range from $60 to $100 million.