Iowa Department of Natural Resources Environmental Services Division For Immediate Release April 3, 2007 HEAVY RAINS OVERWHELM NORTHERN IOWA WASTEWATER SYSTEMS MEDIA CONTACTS: Doug Hawker (Cedar Falls) and Jodi Jeanes (Arlington, Asbury, Denver, Garnavillo, Oelwein) at (563) 927-2640; Paul Brandt (West Liberty) at (319) 653-2135; Al Tompkins (New Hartford, Wellsburg) at (641) 424-4073; Julie Sievers (Holstein) at (712) 732-8350. DES MOINES -- Another storm system moved across the northern part of Iowa Monday evening and early Tuesday, dropping heavy rainfall and overwhelming wastewater systems. The following communities have reported bypasses to the DNR: Arlington (Fayette County) About 3,000 gallons of wastewater bypassed from an Arlington manhole, located near a lift station, to Brush Creek. The bypass lasted from 6:00 to 9:00 Tuesday morning. Asbury (Dubuque County) A mechanical failure in the Asbury wastewater treatment system sent about 100,000 to 200,000 gallons of wastewater to Cloie Branch early Tuesday morning. Cedar Falls (Black Hawk County) The City of Cedar Falls bypassed an unknown amount of wastewater from its Park Drive lift station to the Cedar River beginning at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. The city will monitor the situation and plans to clean and disinfect the area once the bypass ends. Denver (Bremer County) A bypass from a Denver lift station to Quarter Section Run began around 7 a.m. Tuesday, sending at least 5,000 gallons of wastewater to the stream. Garnavillo (Clayton County) The City of Garnavillo bypassed about 5,000 gallons of wastewater from a lift station to South Cedar Creek, beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Holstein (Ida County) Less than 1,000 gallons of wastewater bypassed from the City of Holstein’s Main St. lift station to a road ditch from 2 a.m. to 6:15 a.m. Tuesday. The wastewater bypassed to a road ditch and has the potential to reach an unnamed tributary of Silver Creek. New Hartford (Butler County) A lift station in New Hartford could not keep up with heavy rains and bypassed about 18,000 gallons of untreated wastewater from 6 to 7 a.m. Tuesday. The wastewater pumped from the lift station to a road ditch, and the city will add lime to the area to disinfect. Oelwein (Fayette County) About 5,000 gallons of wastewater bypassed to Otter Creek in Oelwein from 6 to 10 Tuesday morning following a hydraulic problem in the sewer system. Wellsburg (Grundy County) The City of Wellsburg bypassed about 238,000 gallons of untreated wastewater from a lift station to an unnamed tributary to South Beaver Creek. The bypass lasted from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. West Liberty (Muscatine County) Approximately 25,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater bypassed to Wapsinonoc Creek from the City of West Liberty from 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday. -30- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp