The city of Mount Vernon is under federal orders to fix its crumbling sewer infrastructure or face fines.

Federal environmental officials tour Mount Vernon's crumbling sewer infrastructure

Mount Vernon residents shared their stories of frustration with city officials and members of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, who were in town to get a tour of the city's crumbling sewer infrastructure.

The city's head of DPW says the sewer pipes are more than 100 years old and need to be completely replaced.

Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard says she believes race is a factor as to why the city's chronic sewage problems haven't been addressed in decades.

Howard says the federal government has known about the issue for years, but took no action.

"It wasn't maybe until over last two years when our neighboring communities, which are not minorities, started complaining about wastewater flowing into the Hutch and Bronx River Parkway," she says.

Officials say the city can't fix the sewer crisis alone and needs federal and state dollars to help.