Iowa DNR News

Environmental Services Division

 


For immediate release                                                                             June 22, 2009 


 

POWER OUTAGE CAUSES WASTEWATER BYPASS IN HENRY COUNTY BELOW WINFIELD

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Heiderscheit at (319) 653-2135 or [log in to unmask]

 

WINFIELD-An estimated one million gallons of untreated wastewater reached a tributary of Crooked Creek in Winfield Monday after an overnight power outage.

 

The bypass occurred at a pumping station near 130th and Oak streets. It ended at about 11 a.m. 

 

A transformer damaged in an overnight storm apparently caused the outage. The city notified the DNR after discovering the power outage at about 6:45 a.m.

 

# # #

 

FUEL OIL SPILL CONTAINED IN CEDAR FALLS  

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Sanfilippo at (563) 927-2640 or [log in to unmask] 

 

CEDAR FALLS-On Monday, Viking Pump reported a fuel oil leak to a storm water drainage system near their facility on State Street in Cedar Falls. 

 

The company estimates about 50 gallons of fuel oil may have reached the drainage system with a smaller amount reaching a nearby unnamed stream. However, the oil did not reach the Cedar River.

 

"This was a very good response effort," said Joe Sanfilippo, supervisor of the Manchester DNR field office. "I'm expecting the company to recover close to 100 percent of the oil."

 

Company staff has stopped the flow to the creek by placing absorbent material in the drainage ditch. They've also hired a company to pump up the oil and clean up the area.

 

The leakage was discovered Monday morning after staff found a broken gauge on a tank. Company staff suspects there is a leak in a sump pump or a second containment system, which allowed the leaked oil to reach the ditch. 

 

DNR staff checked the site Monday afternoon to ensure proper containment and clean up. Even a small amount of petroleum products can be toxic to animals living in the stream. 

 

The DNR may consider possible enforcement action. 

 

- 30 -

 

 

Karen Grimes

Communications Bureau

Iowa DNR

502 East Ninth Street

Des Moines, IA 50319-0034

(515) 281-5135


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