Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Services Division
 
For Immediate Release                                                                              October 1, 2007
 
1. Storms lead to wastewater bypasses
2. Calling One Call could have avoided wastewater bypass at Sun Valley Lake
 
STORMS LEAD TO WASTEWATER BYPASSES
 
DES MOINES — Heavy rainfall Sunday evening has led a number of communities to report wastewater bypasses to the DNR Monday.
 
Heavy rain can overload wastewater collection systems, which are underground sewer pipes that carry sewage to a treatment plant. Aging or poorly maintained sanitary sewer systems are particularly vulnerable to influxes of storm water. With sewage pipes overwhelmed, excess water has nowhere to go, and can backup into basements through floor drains. Bypassing can lower the water level in the collection system, keeping sewage from backing up into basements, which would present health risks. 
 
These types of situations can occur when large amounts of rainwater or snowmelt, also called storm water, enter a sanitary sewer from cracks in sewer pipes. Sewer system upgrades can fix cracked pipes and minimize storm water entering the sanitary sewer system. However, like other infrastructure upgrades, repairs are costly and often take years to complete. 
 
Storm water runoff can also enter the sanitary sewer through improper connections, such as roof drains or sump pumps hooked up to the sanitary sewer system instead of the storm water system. The storm water should enter the storm sewer system and flow directly into a stream or lake. When storm water enters the sanitary sewer system, the volume of water can overwhelm the wastewater treatment system. 
 
“Communities need to check for sources of storm water getting into the system, and work with homes and businesses to disconnect storm water sources from the sanitary sewer, as well as inspecting their sewage pipes,” said Dennis Ostwinkle, head of the DNR’s Washington field office and wastewater compliance coordinator. 
 
Facilities are required to report bypasses caused by mechanical failures to the DNR within 12 hours of onset or discovery. Facilities do not have to immediately report bypasses from precipitation events, but must include them in their monthly operating report to the DNR. 
 
While many collection systems in Iowa already have or are in the process of upgrading their collection systems to handle these events, many more need to upgrade. 
 
The DNR tracks bypass reports submitted by facilities and follows up with the facility to determine problems and help them upgrade their systems, although it can be a long-term process. The DNR has also formed a committee to discuss how it handles wet weather bypasses. 
 
Precipitation-related environmental incidents that have been reported to the DNR as of 2 p.m. Monday include: 
Buena Vista County
Albert City: About 200,000 gallons of wastewater bypassed to the Raccoon River after the City of Albert City received nearly four inches of rainfall in less than an hour Saturday night. The city bypassed from 10:30 p.m. Sunday to about 3:30 a.m. Monday, pumping wastewater out of the collection system to avoid flooding basements. The wastewater was pumped onto the ground; then flowed into a drainage ditch that flows into the river. 
 
Emmet County
Ringsted: The City of Ringsted bypassed about 500,000 gallons of untreated wastewater from 10:30 p.m. Sunday to 3:30 a.m. Monday. Most of the wastewater was pumped to nearby fields, but some may have reached Black Cat Creek, a tributary of the East Fork Des Moines River. Downstream water users have been notified of the bypass.
 
Palo Alto County
Emmetsburg: The City of Emmetsburg began discharging wastewater from a lift station to the West Fork Des Moines River at 10 p.m. Sunday. The city is currently upgrading its wastewater collection system. Downstream water users have been notified of the bypass.
 
Writer: Jess Brown
 
# # #
 
CALLING ONE CALL COULD HAVE AVOIDED WASTEWATER BYPASS AT SUN VALLEY LAKE
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Jerry Jordison at (712) 243-1934.
 
ELLSTON – About 25 gallons of wastewater leaked from a sewer line at Sun Valley Lake after the line was breached during construction work.
 
The sewer line at Lot 615 Big Bend Road was struck at 8:27 a.m. Sunday and began leaking. The contractor, Brown Dirt Works, shut off the line and repaired it. Leaked material was dammed up; then placed in the wastewater treatment facility. 
 
“It’s very important to contact One Call before doing any digging or dirt work,” said Jerry Jordison in the Atlantic DNR field office. “Fortunately this was a minor incident, but making that call two to three days before construction can keep people safe.”
 
Jordison added that hitting a gas or electric line could cause serious injuries. 
 
Anyone planning an excavation in Iowa is required to notify Iowa One Call at 1-800-292-8989 or by dialing 811 at least 24 hours prior to digging. The free service is not available on weekends and holidays. More information is available at http://www.iowaonecall.com/. 
 
Writer: Karen Grimes
 
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