Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Services Division
 
For Immediate Release                                                   January 7, 2008
 
CEDAR RAPIDS, BURLINGTON DISCHARGING WASTEWATER FOLLOWING SNOW MELT
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Doug Hawker, DNR Manchester field office, at (563) 927-2640 (Cedar Rapids); Russell Royce, DNR Washington field office, at (319) 653-2135 (Burlington).
 
DES MOINES — Heavy snow melt led to a wastewater discharge in Cedar Rapids Sunday afternoon.
 
Between 20,000 and 40,000 gallons of untreated wastewater discharged from a pump station at West Post Road NW and E Ave. NW from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The wastewater is entering the storm sewer system, which discharges to the Cedar River. 
 
The City of Cedar Rapids anticipates that it may need to continue pumping as snow melt continues and with the potential for rainfall. The city is working on infrastructure improvements to this pumping station.
 
When large amounts of rainwater or snowmelt, also called storm water, enter a sanitary sewer from cracks in sewer pipes, it can lead to wastewater discharges. Storm water can also enter from improper connections, such as roof drains or sump pumps hooked up to the sanitary sewer system instead of the storm water system. Rain water and snow melt should enter the storm sewer system, which receives no treatment before entering a stream or lake. Instead, storm water enters and overwhelms the sanitary sewer system (which treats wastewater from homes and businesses).
 
The City of Burlington also discharged about 148,000 gallons of untreated wastewater to the Mississippi River Sunday following heavy snow melt. The discharge from the Brooks St. section of the city’s Hawkeye sewer system began around 9 a.m. Sunday and ended around 9 p.m. The city is planning upgrades to its system.
 
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