Iowa DNR News

Environmental Services Division

 


For immediate release                                                                             March 2, 2009 


 

MELBOURNE WASTEWATER BYPASS CAUSED BY PIPE BREAK

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Gross at (515) 725-0271 or [log in to unmask]

 

DES MOINES - The Marshall County city of Melbourne reported a bypass of between 150,000 and 400,000 gallons of untreated wastewater on Saturday.

 

A ruptured pipe caused the bypass, allowing wastewater to flow into a road ditch near the Melbourne wastewater treatment plant. The wastewater ran into the ditch, down an underground tile line and into a tributary of the North Skunk River. 

 

The treatment plant operator diverted all incoming wastewater to another pipeline, ending the bypass on Saturday morning. He indicated the break could have begun late on Wednesday when wastewater flow out of the plant decreased. 

 

"It's important for plant operators to investigate right away if they see something unusual, like decreased flows into or out of wastewater treatment facilities," said Bill Gross, an environmental specialist with the Des Moines DNR field office. 

 

"In this case, the city reported the broken pipe was about nine feet below the surface, so there were no other immediate signs of the break," he added.

 

Gross required the city to collect water samples and look for evidence of a fish kill or other signs of water pollution. The water was clear downstream on Saturday, with no sign of a fish kill. 

 

Repair on the broken pipe began Monday and was expected to be completed that day. 

 

The DNR does not plan enforcement action at this time. 

 

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Karen Grimes

Communications Bureau

Iowa DNR

502 East Ninth Street

Des Moines, IA 50319-0034

(515) 281-5135

 


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