A new study found that 41 billion gallons of untreated sewage and dirty stormwater were dumped into the Great Lakes last year. The same study estimates that it will cost Great Lakes communities approximately $23.3 billion to solve the overflow problem.

In addition to suffocating aquatic life, sewage overflows lead to beach closures.The sewage overflow was the subject of a press conference at Buffalo's Inner Harbor on Monday, where environmentalists and waterfront activists came together to discuss the so-called "sewage crisis." The campaign director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, the group that published the study, declared: "Our message today is very simple. We need to stop dumping raw sewage into the Great Lakes."

Despite a marked increase in federal funding for sewage improvement over the past few years, advocates stressed the need for more aid to fully eradicate the problem.

According to the Buffalo News, there are some local projects already underway. A former Erie County public works commissioner, who spoke on behalf of the American Society of Civil Engineers, pointed out that investment in these programs can help jump-start the economy by creating jobs. In fact, the coalition's study suggested that every $1 billion in wastewater infrastructure creates at least 20,000 jobs.

The Buffalo Sewer Authority is currently conducting a study to determine the effect of sewage overflow on fresh water systems, which is set to be completed next spring. In the meantime, advocates are encouraging community members to take simple steps - such as installing rain barrels, fixing dripping faucets and using less water during heavy rainfalls - that could help mitigate sewage overflow by reducing the impact on local sewer systems.