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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]