IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
August 9, 2007
For immediate release
1. DNR issues drinking water boil order for Chariton
2. Manure runoff reaches creek in Louisa County fish kill
3. Consumption advisory for bass removed in Mason City
4. Update: More than 90,000 fish killed in Floyd River
5. 2006 Iowa Drinking Water Compliance Report available
6. Fairfield discharges wastewater following rainstorms
7. DNR enforcement actions
DNR ISSUES DRINKING WATER BOIL ORDER FOR CHARITON
MEDIA CONTACT: Jim Stricker at (515) 725-0270
CHARITON - The DNR issued a boil order for Chariton residents Thursday
after routine water testing has shown high levels of turbidity, low
chlorine residuals and elevated bacteria levels.
The 4,500 residents in the Lucas County town should boil water used for
drinking or cooking, brushing teeth, food preparation or any other
purpose involving human consumption. City water may still be used for
bathing.
Samples collected August 5 from Chariton Municipal Water Works’ water
supply showed turbidity levels of greater than 1 turbidity unit, above
the standard of 0.3 turbidity units. Turbidity is cloudiness caused by
particles in the water and is an indication of inadequate water
treatment.
The DNR is issuing the order based on these test results, as well as
the Water Works’ failure to conduct monitoring as directed, to
accurately report operational data, and to consistently apply adequate
operational strategies.
“The boil order protects the public while these issues are being
resolved. That’s why we’re requiring residents to boil their water
until water samples come back showing the water is safe to drink,”
said Jim Stricker, the supervisor of the DNR’s Des Moines field
office.
For the DNR to lift the boil order, turbidity levels must be below 0.3
turbidity units, the total chlorine residuals must be above 1.5 mg/L
total in the distribution system and bacteria tests must be
satisfactory.
Boiling destroys disease-causing organisms, which may be in the water.
Water should be brought to a boil, boiled one minute and then allowed to
cool before using. More information on disinfecting water is available
on the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. Residents
should continue to boil their water until DNR and Chariton Municipal
Water Works officials notify them that water is meeting standards and is
safe to drink.
Chariton’s water supply comes from two lakes located east of town.
The turbidity levels have exceeded standards, and violations have been
issued for June, July and August. The Chariton water supply changed its
disinfection method in July and must maintain a minimum of 1.5 mg/L
total chlorine residual in the distribution system. The required
chlorine residual was not maintained for 15 days in July.
The DNR is proceeding with legal action against the Chariton Municipal
Water Works for not meeting turbidity standards, not meeting the maximum
contaminant level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes and total haloacetic
acids, and other issues.
# # #
MANURE RUNOFF REACHES CREEK IN LOUISA COUNTY FISH KILL
MEDIA CONTACT: Jim Sievers at 319-653-2135
COTTER - Manure runoff from a nearby open feedlot led to a fish kill,
reported to the DNR Wednesday, in Short Creek near Cotter.
A citizen discovered several dead fish in the creek northeast of Cotter
Wednesday morning. Upon investigating, DNR officials found several dead
white suckers, minnows, gizzard chads, chubs and at least one largemouth
bass in the affected waters.
DNR fisheries technician Vance Poulton estimated the fish kill spanned
approximately three miles of Short Creek and occurred sometime over the
weekend. Further details surrounding the fish kill are expected Thursday
afternoon following tests.
DNR officials traced the runoff to an open feedlot located roughly a
half-mile away from the creek. It appears hoses used to cool hogs led to
the runoff escaping the open feedlot.
Fish require dissolved oxygen in water in order to survive, and
dissolved oxygen levels decrease when pollutants such as manure runoff
enter the water. Iowa’s recent warm temperatures have also further
stressed fish, making them vulnerable.
During summer months, it is critical open feedlot producers inspect
below their lots for cut channels or other ways that manure can reach
Iowa waters.
Fish kills should be reported to the DNR’s 24-hour spill hotline at
(515) 281-8694.
The investigation is ongoing. The DNR is considering enforcement
action, including restitution for dead fish.
Writer: Holly Williams
# # #
CONSUMPTION ADVISORY FOR BASS REMOVED IN MASON CITY
MEDIA CONTACT: Cindy Garza, DNR Field Office in Mason City, at
515-424-4073.
MASON CITY - A fish consumption advisory for largemouth bass caught
from Black Pit (also known as Pierce Pond) located in Lester Milligan
Park in Mason City has been removed.
Removal of the advisory comes after testing of largemouth bass filets
during the past year. The advisory was issued in July of 2006 after two
fish tissue samplings conducted by the DNR - one in early May and a
subsequent one in late June of 2006 - detected slightly elevated levels
of mercury in largemouth bass fillets. The levels were 0.24 parts per
million (ppm) in the May sampling and 0.23 ppm in the June sampling of
fish tissue. The recent samples taken this summer were .018 parts per
million.
The samples taken for both channel catfish and panfish in 2006 were
below the 0.2 ppm level for mercury used to determine if an advisory was
issued last year. A 0.3 standard is now used to remain consistent with
standards used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A nearby pond in Lester Milligan Park, Big Blue, has not been impacted
and there have been no advisories put into effect for fish from there.
The Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department of Natural
Resources urge citizens to consider the following factors regarding the
consumption of fish:
* Fish is a healthy food-source of lean protein and essential
fatty acids
* Fish should be a part of the healthy diet of all individuals
including pregnant or nursing mothers and young children
* Environmental chemicals are present in fish tissue at low
concentrations, and bio-accumulate in larger and older fish
* Exposure to larger amounts of environmental chemicals can be
avoided by restricting consumption of larger-sized fresh-water predator
fish (such as bass, walleye, and pike), and certain varieties of
salt-water fish (such as mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish)
Although the source of mercury in Black Pit is not known, in 2005 The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspected two buildings and
the surrounding property located at 1511 S. Garfield Place and 1580 SW
15th St. where mercury oxide battery manufacturing operations were
performed in the past. While the EPA is continuing its efforts to have
the responsible party clean up, mercury levels in Black Pit have dropped
since equipment that had mercury-laden dust on it was moved from the
parking lot.
Writer: Kevin Baskins
# # #
UPDATE: MORE THAN 90,000 FISH KILLED IN FLOYD RIVER
MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.
HOSPERS - The DNR has estimated a fish kill in the Floyd River near
Hospers to be approximately 97,000 fish.
The fish were killed along approximately 7.4 miles of stream and were
valued at $11,660. Most of the fish were smaller minnow species
including shiners and chubs, but there were also dead sunfish, suckers
and a few channel catfish found as well.
The DNR is continuing to investigate the incident to determine the
reason for the fish kill and is currently awaiting laboratory results
from water samples that have been collected. If a responsible party can
be determined, restitution will be sought for the value of the fish.
The DNR first began investigating the fish kill Aug. 6.
Writer: Kevin Baskins
# # #
2006 IOWA DRINKING WATER COMPLIANCE REPORT AVAILABLE
MEDIA CONTACT: Dennis Alt at (515) 725-0275.
DES MOINES - More than 2.63 million Iowans served by public water
supplies received safe drinking water in 2006, according to an annual
DNR compliance report presented to the Iowa Environmental Protection
Commission Aug. 7.
Iowans can check the safety of the drinking water in their city by
going online to the “Iowa Public Drinking Water Program 2006 Annual
Compliance Report.” The report can be found at
www.iowadnr.gov/water/drinking/reports.html and is also available by
contacting the DNR.
“As people look at the report, they should understand that exceeding
the maximum allowed level of contamination, or MCL, just one time for
one contaminant causes a public water supply to be out of compliance,”
said Dennis Alt, supervisor of the DNR’s water supply engineering
section.
Alt said the results for 2006 were similar to recent years, despite new
federal regulations that created more requirements for water system
operators and state oversight staff.
“Overall, the public water supplies in Iowa are serving safe water
and we can be proud that there have been no deaths or disease outbreaks
reported,” he said. “We even saw a slight increase in the number of
systems that met the drinking water standards for bacteria and nitrates
throughout 2006 when compared to last year. However, we continue to have
room for improvement.”
The contaminants found in Iowa which can cause an immediate, or acute,
health risk are coliform bacteria from a fecal source, nitrate and
nitrite. Bacteria pose a risk to people who are elderly, very young or
who have weakened immune systems. Nitrate and nitrite are a risk to
infants under six months of age and possibly pregnant women.
Less than one percent or 19 of the 2,015 active public water supplies
in 2006 had 31 violations of the fecal coliform bacteria standard.
Nineteen systems had a total of 64 violations of the nitrate standard.
One system had two violations of the nitrite standard.
All public water systems are required to sample their water at specific
intervals for certain contaminants. Many of those systems are also
required to submit monthly operation reports. The DNR issues monitoring
or reporting violations if systems do not collect the required samples
or submit timely reports.
“This is another of the areas where we need to see improvement with
compliance,” said Alt. “Both the number of systems with a monitoring
or reporting violation increased over 2005, as did the total number of
violations.
“The drinking water industry is very complicated with many
requirements,” he added. Iowa is fortunate to have dedicated,
qualified water treatment and water distribution system operators, and
state drinking water staff. And I'm sure we can work together to improve
the compliance rate.”
These are some of the report’s highlights:
* There were no reported waterborne disease outbreaks or deaths
from Iowa public drinking water supplies.
* All health-based standards were met by 90 percent of Iowa’s
2,015 regulated public water supplies.
* More than 2.6 million people served by Iowa’s public water
systems received water that was in compliance with all health-based
standards.
* The 396 health-based standard violations at 193 public water
supplies were of these contaminants (followed by the percent contributed
by each contaminant to the total number of violations): non-fecal
coliform bacteria (50 percent), nitrate (16 percent), total
trihalomethanes (9 percent), fecal coliform bacteria (8 percent),
arsenic (4 percent), lead (4 percent), copper (4 percent), and other
contaminants.
* Major monitoring and reporting requirements were met by 80
percent of Iowa's public water supply systems. Of the 1,088 violations,
monitoring violations for coliform bacteria, nitrate, volatile organic
compounds, and synthetic organic compounds, and reporting violations
were the most prevalent.
* The requirement for each of the 1,146 community public water
supply systems to compile and distribute an annual consumer confidence
report to their customers was met by 96 percent of the systems.
The federal Safe Drinking Water Act requires the State of Iowa to
publish an annual report of the status of its drinking water program.
The report has been distributed to the DNR’s Environmental Protection
Commission, the Governor’s Office, the Iowa Legislature and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
The report is available on the DNR’s Web site
(www.iowadnr.gov/water/drinking/reports.html) or by contacting the Water
Supply Engineering and Operations Sections, Iowa DNR, 401 SW Seventh
St., Suite M, Des Moines, IA 50309-4611 or at (515) 725-0282.
Writer: Karen Grimes
# # #
FAIRFIELD DISCHARGES WASTEWATER FOLLOWING RAINSTORMS
MEDIA CONTACT: Dennis Ostwinkle or Jim Sievers, DNR Washington field
office, (319) 653-2135.
FAIRFIELD - The City of Fairfield bypassed untreated wastewater to
local creeks Wednesday evening as rainstorms moved through the area.
Almost 236,000 gallons of wastewater combined with field runoff,
entering Crow Creek just above the Highway 34 bypass. Another 57,000
gallons entered into an unnamed tributary of Cedar Creek just below
Jefferson County Park. The city has used lime to disinfect both areas.
The City of Fairfield is currently working on upgrading its wastewater
collection system.
Writer: Jessie Brown
# # #
DNR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Brown at (515) 281-5131.
DES MOINES - The DNR took the following enforcement actions in June and
July 2007. The following are only briefs; please contact Jessie Brown of
the DNR for more information at (515) 281-5131.
Enforcement actions, including copies of the original orders and
contact information, are available on the DNR’s Web site at
www.iowadnr.gov/legal/eactions.html. The Web listing offers orders first
taken in 2007 (amendments to orders issued prior to 2007 are not
listed).
Administrative Orders
Responsible parties have 30 days to appeal the order or 60 days to pay
the penalty.
Dickinson County
* Doug Orwig, of Lake Park, was issued a unilateral administrative
order to submit a complete manure management plan (MMP) and fees, and to
pay a $3,500 penalty. The order is in regard to failure to submit a
complete Iowa Phosphorus Index MMP for a site in Dickinson County.
Hamilton County
* The DNR amended a 1999 administrative order regarding animal
feeding operations at a site in Hamilton County. The order is amended by
deleting all references to Iowa Select Farms, L.P. as a responsible
party for any of the violations addressed in the order.
Consent Orders
A consent order is issued as an alternative to issuing an
administrative order. A consent order indicates that the DNR has
voluntarily entered into a legally enforceable agreement with the other
party.
Cerro Gordo County
* Cerro Gordo County and the City of Meservey agreed in a consent
order to retain an engineer to submit a preliminary engineering report,
to remove a bypass from the city’s lift station wet well, to install
new pumps at the lift station and to obtain permits for future
construction or changes to wastewater treatment facilities. The county
and city also agreed to pay a $1,250 penalty to the DNR and perform a
supplemental environmental project (SEP) with an estimated cost of
$5,800. The project will pay for improvements to leaking manholes in
Meservey. The consent order is in regard to violations at the city’s
wastewater treatment plant.
* Doug Neuberger, of Clear Lake, agreed in a consent order to
submit a manure management plan and obtain certification as a
confinement site manure applicator. The consent order is in regard to
improper manure application at a site in Cerro Gordo County.
Des Moines County
* M.A., Inc., of Burlington, agreed in a consent order to withdraw
an application to renew a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit for the operation of the wastewater disposal
system at Spring Grove Mobile Home Park in Burlington. The NPDES permit
has expired and is no longer in effect.
Emmet County
* Robert Ness, of Estherville, agreed in a consent order to submit
and implement a plan of action for the construction of manure
containment structures and to pay a $3,000 penalty. The consent order is
in regard to manure from open cattle feedlots in Emmet County entering
Twelve Mile Lake.
Franklin County
* Franklin County agreed in a consent order to pay a $7,500
penalty. The consent order is in regard to open burning and illegal
dumping violations in rural Franklin County.
Mitchell County
* L&M Machine, LTD, dba L&M Machine and Construction, and Bob
Joens, all of Riceville, agreed in a consent order to pay a $2,000
penalty. The consent order is in regard to asbestos removal, improper
disposal of solid waste and open burning violations that occurred during
the demolition of two residences in Riceville.
Plymouth County
* Anthony Trucking, Inc., of LeMars, agreed in a consent order to
cease illegal discharge of a wastewater disposal system and to pay a
$5,000 penalty. The consent order is in regard to a truck wash facility
in Plymouth County.
Washington County
* The City of Washington agreed in a consent order to work with
the DNR regarding the construction of a new gravity sewer line to serve
a biodiesel facility and to follow a compliance schedule for
improvements to its wastewater collection system, including its
treatment facility. The city also agreed to stipulated penalties if the
schedule is not followed.
Consent Amendments
A consent amendment is issued in settlement of a previous
administrative order or to amend a pre-existing consent order. A consent
amendment indicates that the DNR has voluntarily entered into a legally
enforceable agreement with the other party.
Clinton County
* Gary Hart, of Clinton, agreed in a consent amendment to remove
all solid waste and recyclable metals from a site in Clinton, provide
verification of proper disposal, to not store more than 500 waste tires
onsite unless he obtains a permit, and to pay a $1,000 penalty. This
amends a 2004 administrative order regarding solid waste and air quality
violations.
Writer: Jessie Brown
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