CENTREVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Illinois’ two U.S. senators say residents in the state’s Metro East region are facing a major public health crisis because of persistent flooding and sewage problems.

Democrats Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin on Wednesday asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enforce environmental laws, conduct water testing and identify solutions to the problems that plague Centreville and nearby communities east of St. Louis.

In a letter to officials of Region 5 of the EPA, the senators noted Centreville, which neighbors East St. Louis, is a low income, African American community of about 5,000 that faces chronic stormwater flooding and sewage issue that have destroyed homes. They said the situation demands action. EPA officials did not respond to a request for comment.