The average Joe rarely notices Whitehead Creek as it crawls under much of southern St. Joseph.

But when it rains, the small stream causes big problems for the city.

The creek’s tributaries flow from the hills southeast of St. Joseph along Ajax and Easton roads before they join and enter a large diameter sewer line that flows under industrial areas and empties into the Missouri River south of U.S. Highway 36. The city — and the Environmental Protection Agency — want to make changes in the Whitehead Creek watershed to remove as much wastewater as possible from the city’s sewer system.

Matt Schultze, project manager for the city’s sewer consultant, Black & Veatch, explained to City Council members last week the issues Whitehead Creek present for the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“You have creeks that are flowing directly into your system and that is not good because (the city) has to treat that 24/7,” Mr. Schultze said.

When it rains, stormwater overloads the system and flows to the river through one of the city’s combined sewer overflows. Assistant Public Works Director Andy Clements placed the volume at several million gallons per day in dry weather and up to 60 million gallons with rainfall.

The city’s basic idea — no plans have been finalized — would include pond-like basins upstream to hold stormwater, plus a conduit separate from the sewer system to carry the water to the river. The project could include one large basin or several small ones.

“The bottom line is it’s a whole lot more expensive for us to treat all that water than it is to take it directly to the Missouri River,” Mr. Clements said.

The city and representatives from Black & Veatch will hold the first of two public meetings on the Whitehead Creek basin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the library at Spring Garden Middle School. The project is part of the city’s federally mandated $450 million plan to reduce combined sewer overflows.

Mr. Clements said the city hopes to receive public input so it can determine where the basins should be placed and what type could be used. Some citizens may favor a structure that holds water year-round and provides recreation opportunities. Others may prefer another type of basin that holds water for a short time, then drains in dry weather. The city could even purchase land outside the city to build structures.

Mr. Clements said the project should enter the design phase in spring 2010, after the city gathers public comments.

Clinton Thomas can be reached at clintonthomas@npgco.com.