For Immediate Release from Iowa DNR
September 30, 2003

POSTVILLE TO BEGIN DISCHARGE WEDNESDAY

POSTVILLE - To create adequate storage for wastewater during the
winter months, Postville will begin discharging from their industrial
lagoon facility on Wednesday.

Up to 800,000 gallons per day will discharge into Hecker Creek, a
tributary of the Yellow River in Allamakee County.  Currently Hecker
Creek has no flow and empties into a "losing" segment of the Yellow
River, which is also dry at this time. The DNR estimates the discharge
will probably not reach the Yellow River unless there is enough rain to
create flow in Hecker creek.

"With the coming of colder temperatures and abnormally low flows, it
is unlikely we will get the necessary stream flow in the Yellow River to
provide any type of dilution before winter," says Mike Wade, DNR
environmental specialist for the region.

"Recent sampling of the wastewater at the facility indicates the
discharge will meet all limits in the operation permit and limits for
ammonia," Wade says.  "If we wait until later in the season, ammonia
levels will be higher, requiring some dilution with river water to meet
ammonia limits.  Even if the discharge met the limits, it could still
cause a fish kill in the Yellow River because ammonia doesn't break
down as fast in cold weather."

 If Postville does not create adequate storage for wastewater during
the winter by discharging, they risk having to shut down the industries
that use the facility.

 "We are trying to make the best of a bad situation," says Wayne
Gieselman, head of the DNR's environmental services.  "Our
geologists and field office staff have been evaluating the options and
feel this action will have the least impact."

Because of the "losing" condition of the stream, caused by the
fractured bedrock in this region, there is a potential that wells
accessing the shallow groundwater aquifer in this area could be
impacted.  The City will conduct required monitoring throughout the
discharge, which may continue through October.  Also, staff from the DNR
field office in Manchester will closely monitor the discharge during
this period.

For more information, contact Mike Wade at (563) 927-2640.

# # #

PUMP CAUSES WASTEWATER BYPASSES INTO SOAP CREEK NEAR KEOKUK

WASHINGTON -- A faulty pump has resulted in multiple wastewater
bypasses into Soap Creek near Keokuk over the past two weeks.

The pump at Keokuk Steel Castings, which normally pumps sanitary waste
to the city collection system, has continually been malfunctioning.
Despite multiple repairs, the pump continues to stop working, causing
intermittent discharges.

Most bypasses occurred for about an hour at a time. The largest bypass
occurred Monday, when wastewater discharged for a five-hour period at a
rate of 10 to 12 gallons per minute.

The company has no estimate of the total wastewater bypassed, said
Terry Jones, environmental specialist at the Washington DNR field
office.

The bypasses affect Soap Creek, which is dry at the point of bypass and
runs through an industrial area. Discharges have caused a slight
discoloration in the water, but no fish kill is expected. Live insects
and amphibians have been observed in the stream.

Keokuk Steel Castings' pump station is dated, making replacement
parts for the pumps unavailable. The business is using a current pump
for parts and plans to purchase a sewage pump as a backup. The DNR has
ordered the company to stop bypassing and to pump to a sanitary sewer in
case of future emergencies.

For more information, contact Terry Jones at 319-653-2135.

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