Iowa DNR News
Environmental Services Division

For immediate release April 8, 2007


NOTE TO EDITORS: This is an update to the previously reported bypasses that occurred across the state after heavy rainfall the weekend of May 5, 2007. The original news release and more information about bypasses can be found at http://www.iowadnrcom/news/07apr/bypass.html.


UPDATE TO STATEWIDE BYPASSES

MEDIA CONTACTS: Dan Stipe (Council Bluffs, Farragut) at (712) 243-1934, or Alison Manz (Bridgewater) at (712) 243-1934, or Jerry Jordison (Audubon, Clarinda, Clearfield, Walnut) at (712) 243-1934, Dennis Applehons (Lynnville) at (515) 725-0268, or Tom Roos (Lytton, Odebolt) at (712) 262-4177.

DES MOINES - Ten additional cities reported waste water bypasses to the DNR on May 7 or 8 after heavy rains fell throughout the state last weekend. The following cities have bypassed:

ADAIR COUNTY
Bridgewater: The City of Bridgewater began bypassing from a lift station Tuesday morning after severe storms in the area. The city will collect water samples, if possible, and report the total volume of the discharge to the DNR.

AUDUBON COUNTY
Audubon: The City of Audubon began bypassing at 4 a.m. on Sunday after heavy rainfall overloaded the waste water treatment system. About 2,500 gallons per minute were being bypassed to Bluegrass Creek.

FREMONT COUNTY
Farragut: The City of Farragut reported that the waste water treatment lagoons were flooded by the East Nishnabotna River sometime during Monday night. The lagoons were completely under water on Tuesday morning. The city will assess damage to the lagoon walls after flood waters recede.

PAGE COUNTY
Clarinda: The City of Clarinda began bypassing at 6 a.m. Monday after storm water overflowed from a collection basin. The city was bypassing about 50 gallons of waste water per minute into the West Nodaway River. 

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
Council Bluffs: Bypassing in Council Bluffs continued Tuesday morning, with between six and seven million gallons per day going to the Missouri River via three lift stations due to a broken 36-inch force main. The broken force main was fixed on Sunday, but the repair failed overnight and bypassing resumed at 7 a.m. on Monday. The city reports that the pipe is damaged by corrosion. They plan to make temporary repairs starting Tuesday afternoon by patching the pipe. The city plans to make permanent repairs when a replacement pipe is delivered, probably in several days. The city is also bypassing from the Sixth Ave. pump station into the storm sewer system which flows into the Missouri. Nearly 37 million gallons of waste water have been bypassed between 1:30 a.m. on Sunday and 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Walnut: Bypassing began at 9 a.m. Monday after heavy rainfall overloaded the sanitary sewer system causing waste water to overflow out of two manholes. Approximately 600 gallons per minute were bypassed to Walnut Creek.

POWESHIEK COUNTY
Lynnville: The City of Lynnville bypassed about 33,000 gallons of wastewater between 4 and 9:30 a.m. on Monday after a 4.5-inch rainfall fell in about 24 hours. The bypass went into a drainage ditch and then into the North Skunk River.

SAC COUNTY
Lytton: The City of Lytton bypassed about 40,000 gallons of waste water Sunday to prevent it from backing up into basements. The city bypassed into a roadside ditch from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Odebolt: The City of Odebolt began discharging waste water to Odebolt Creek at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday after heavy rains overwhelmed pumps at the lift station. The bypass was ongoing Tuesday afternoon to prevent waste water from backing up into basements.

TAYLOR COUNTY
Clearfield: Nearly 10 inches of rainfall over the weekend caused the City of Clearfield to begin bypassing about 15,000 gallons per hour to Garth and Turkey Creeks, which flow into the Platte River. The bypassing began at about 3 a.m. Monday. The city is planning to improve their collection system.

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Karen Grimes
515-281-5135
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