Today in History revisits the September 2, 1979 edition of the Grand Forks Herald and highlights a story about Grand Forks homeowners facing repeated sewage backups because storm and sanitary sewers were combined. Continue reading for more details.

Of all the people appearing before the Grand Forks City Council, none are angrier than those suffering the misfortune of sewer backup.

They make pleas for recompense, some of them describing the material that has found its way into their finished basements.

Images of the sight and aroma evoke sympathy from the council members — but no money. By law, the city does not have to pay for damages.

“I ran for the city council (in 1970) solely because of the sewer backup problem,” Alderman Ludwik Kulas said at one meeting. “I’m still here and it sti

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