Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesEnvironmental Services Division For Immediate Release August15, 2007 1. DNR lifts boil order for Wiota2. Two separate fish kills investigated Wednesday3. DNR investigates fish kill caused by liquid fertilizer4. Bypasses reported in Ottumwa, Waukon DNR LIFTS BOIL ORDER FOR WIOTA MEDIA CONTACT: Keith Wilkens at (712) 243-1934. ATLANTIC – The DNR lifted the boil order for the City of Wiota at2:20 p.m. Wednesday after laboratory test results came back clean forbacteria. “The water is safe to drink,” said Keith Wilkens, an environmentalspecialist with the Atlantic DNR field office. The DNR collected four more water samples Monday and all four came backnegative for coliform bacteria. The boil order has been in effect since Aug. 2. Writer: Karen Grimes # # # TWO SEPARATE FISH KILLS INVESTIGATED WEDNESDAY MEDIA CONTACT: Amber Sauser (Decorah) at 563-927-2640 or Alison Manz(Harlan) at 712-243-1934 DES MOINES – The DNR is investigating two separate fish kills in thenortheast and southwest regions of Iowa Wednesday. Reported Tuesday evening, manure from a dairy operation led to a fishkill in Winneshiek County. The spill occurred after a slat broke from alarge concrete basin containing manure, releasing the contents to atributary of Ten Mile Creek. When attempting to fix the outletWednesday, additional manure flowed to the tributary. The owner of the dairy operation, Steve Elsbrend of Ridgeway,constructed a dike to prevent more manure from being released Tuesday.Additional rain on Wednesday overcame the dike he built, causing asecond spill. Located west of Decorah, DNR officials observed mainly dead minnows inthe tributary, with darters and smallmouth bass also reported dead. Elsbrend is currently pumping the affected half-mile stretch of streamto contain the spill and prevent further aquatic losses. “It’s important for producers to call the DNR as soon as they knowa spill has entered a stream so we can quickly assist them in preventingfurther damage,” said Amber Sauser of the DNR Manchester field office. A separate fish kill is being investigated Wednesday at Little LakeGeorge in Harlan. While a fish kill totals remain unknown, DNR fieldoffice staff observed hundreds of dead black crappie and bluegills. Thesource remains under investigation, however it is believed a substancefrom Harlan’s storm sewer triggered the fish kill. “Many people don’t realize that the storm sewer on their streetflows directly into a stream in their neighborhood,” said Alison Manzof the Atlantic DNR field office. “It’s extremely important todispose of paint, oil and other chemicals properly and not put thoseinto a storm sewer where they can cause pollution or even a fishkill.” A storm sewer outfall from the City of Harlan feeds into Little LakeGeorge. While high water temperatures can stress fish during summermonths, samples collected at the lake by DNR staff showed high levels ofdissolved oxygen indicating the fish kill was likely caused by apollutant. Fish kills should be reported to the DNR’s 24-hour spill hotline at(515) 281-8694. Both investigations are ongoing. Possible enforcement action includingrestitution for dead fish is being considered in the Decorah case, andwill be sought if a responsible party is found in the Harlan fish kill. Writer: Holly Williams # # # DNR INVESTIGATES FISH KILL CAUSED BY LIQUID FERTILIZER MEDIA CONTACT: Glenn Carper or Al Tompkins at (6410 424-4073. WILLIAMS – The DNR investigated a spill report of liquid phosphatefertilizer Wednesday and discovered a potential fish kill. Up to 27,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer spilled when a storagestructure owned by Agriculture Liquid Fertilizer of Williams failed. Thecompany recovered some of the fertilizer, but estimates about 9,000gallons leaked through a secondary containment around the storage tank. The DNR found the liquid fertilizer had entered an underground tilesystem that flows into the Big 4 drainage ditch about 1.5 miles west ofWilliams. Although the investigation is hampered by heavy vegetation, the DNRfound 10 dead fish and very high ammonia levels where the tile linedischarges into the ditch. Low flow conditions have helped Agriculture Liquid Fertilizer containthe spill in a one-third to one-half mile segment of the ditch. The DNRhas required the company to dam the ditch and pump the contaminatedwater to prevent it from flowing 2.5 miles east into the South Fork ofthe Iowa River. Recovery efforts will continue tomorrow, but downstream livestockproducers and other water users should be aware of the situation in casethe spill is not completely contained. The DNR will consider appropriate legal action or fish restitution. Writer: Karen Grimes # # # BYPASSES REPORTED IN OTTUMWA, WAUKON MEDIA CONTACTS: Ottumwa -- Russell Royce at (319) 653-2135; Waukon –Mike Wade at (563) 927-2640. DES MOINES – Discharges of untreated wastewater were ongoing inOttumwa and Waukon and were reported to the DNR Wednesday afternoon. In Ottumwa, about 100 gallons per minute of untreated wastewater begandischarging along the Des Moines River wall on the north end of theMarket Street Bridge about noon. River flows are relatively low. The discharge may be related to a problem with the city’s sanitarysewer since there has been little rain in the area. The city is lookingfor the cause of the discharge and plans to fix the problem. Waukon’s partially-filled equalization basin filled and beganoverflowing in Allamakee County about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The basin is designed to catch and hold excess wastewater duringstorms, preventing bypasses. “Although there’s been significant rainfall in the last three days,the basin was partly full to begin with,” said Mike Wade anenvironmental specialist with the Manchester DNR field office. He said that cities can help prevent bypasses if they empty theirbasins during low flow periods so they have full capacity during highrainfall events. The bypass is expected to continue until wastewater flowing into thetreatment plant slows down The DNR is requiring each city to collect and test water samples. Writer: Karen Grimes -30-
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