For immediate release: AUG. 31, 2009


REPAIRS ON BURLINGTON BYPASS DELAYED BY HIGH RIVER LEVELS

MEDIA CONTACT: Paul Brandt at the DNR Washington field office at (319) 653-2135 or [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

BURLINGTON – A leak discovered Aug. 18 in a Burlington sewer line continues to send untreated wastewater to the Mississippi River.


The leak was originally estimated to be between 300 and 1,500 gallons per minute. When city staff visited the site Aug. 21, they reported the leak was considerably less than 200 gallons per minute.



Repairs of the line have been slowed by its location south of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad river bridge. The site is inaccessible except by boat.



The city contracted with a marine transportation company and a construction company Aug. 25 to make the repairs, but delayed the job because of the weather forecast. Now, the site is under water and the river will have to drop about 4.5 feet before repairs can begin. The city expects work to start about Sept. 8



The DNR has requested that the city notify the drinking water supplies in Keokuk and Fort Madison of the discharge.


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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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