By: Diane Benjamin

Since the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District (BNWRD) documents weren’t publicly posted, I start this page in 2023: https://blnnews.com/bnwrd-docs/

Last week I received a packet for an emergency repair meeting which involves the sewer by Autozone in Normal. The sewer in this area was built in 1900. The homeless encampment had to be moved because this project is planned:

The emergency meeting was held on June 13, 2025, to authorize repairs costing $64,648. Please review the background details in this document. We know both Bloomington and Normal have outdated infrastructure. It seems action is only taken after such systems fail. Since bids for rehabilitation are not due until July 1, 2025, and the awarding process and construction will take additional time, were the campers relocated because this area is now considered hazardous?

The $64,648 allocation appears insufficient to address significant repairs. I wonder how many other outdated sewer systems are long overdue for replacement.