Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesEnvironmental Services Division For Immediate Release						July 31,2007 MOTORIST REPORTS WASTEWATER BYPASS IN HIAWATHA MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Wade at (563) 927-2640HIAWATHA – A bubbler switch failed to activate pumps at the City ofHiawatha’s Mitchell Drive lift station, leading to an unknown amountof untreated wastewater entering a nearby tributary Tuesday. A motorist notified DNR staff of the bypass around noon Tuesday afterdiscovering the lift station bypassing to a small stream. The stream,located north of Boyson Road along Interstate 380, discharges to OtterCreek, which flows to the Cedar River. “With the time of the flow to the Cedar River and the dilutionfactor, there should be little risk to people recreating in the CedarRiver,” said Mike Wade, an environmental specialist with the DNR fieldoffice in Manchester.  The automatic alarm system at the lift station also failed due to theswitch malfunction. As a result, Hiawatha’s collection system staffdid not know of the bypass until notified by DNR staff. City crewsstopped the discharge before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Downstream property owners were notified of the discharge by the city.The city is disinfecting affected areas with lime and collecting watersamples to check for contaminants.  The city is planning to install a new alarm system and is planning toreplace the lift station within two years. Writer: Holly Williams-30- 
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