Iowa DNR News

Environmental Services Division

For immediate release                                                                                   Dec. 12, 2007

1. Pump failure leads to wastewater discharge in Sigourney
2. Fairfield wastewater discharge due to pump problems
3. Small sheen on Missouri River at Council Bluffs

PUMP FAILURE LEADS TO SIGOURNEY WASTEWATER DISCHARGE

MEDIA CONTACT: Jim Sievers at (319) 653-2135.

SIGOURNEY — A pump failure discovered early Wednesday morning has led to a wastewater discharge in Sigourney.

One of the pumps at the Spring Street pumping station failed sometime Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. City staff reported that the failure was not a result of a power outage and that the other pump normally at this pumping station was being repaired.

“This is a good example of why communities should not rely on just one pump to handle their wastewater at pumping stations,” said Jim Sievers of the DNR’s Washington field office.

City staff discovered the discharge at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. Untreated wastewater is discharging at a rate of 100 gallons per minute to a drainage ditch. The ditch flows to Rock Creek, which is a tributary to Cedar Creek and the North Skunk River. Due to recent rains, water levels in Rock Creek are high and should help dilute the wastewater.

The city has hired a pump repair company to work on the pump Wednesday morning. The bypass will continue until the pump is operating again.

Writer: Jess Brown

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FAIRFIELD DISCHARGES WASTEWATER AFTER PUMP PROBLEMS

MEDIA CONTACT: Terry Jones at (319) 653-2135.

FAIRFIELD – The City of Fairfield discovered a problem with a pump regulator that allowed an estimated 100,000 gallons of untreated wastewater to reach Crooked Creek.

The problem with the pump was discovered and fixed about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. City staff switched to an older control system to prevent further discharges from a manhole.

The DNR is requiring the city to take samples at upstream and downstream sites, in addition to samples already taken at the discharge location. The DNR will also issue a Notice of Violation for late reporting. Discharges due to mechanical failure must be reported within 12 hours.

Writer: Karen Grimes

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SMALL SHEEN ON MISSOURI RIVER AT COUNCIL BLUFFS

MEDIA CONTACT: Kathy Lee, DNR, at (515) 725-0384

COUNCIL BLUFFS — A release of petroleum in Council Bluffs has led to a small sheen on Mosquito Creek and the Missouri River.

At MidAmerican Energy’s Walter Scott Energy Center, sump pumps normally pump to a machine that separates oil and water. According to MidAmerican, employees took the sump pumps out of service for normal maintenance Wednesday and forgot to turn them back on. This allowed water, contaminated with about a quart of petroleum, to be released to a storm water outfall.

The outfall is located where Mosquito Creek meets the Missouri River. The release created a small sheen, about 20 feet long and two feet wide, on the river.

MidAmerican has placed absorbent booms on Mosquito Creek and the Missouri River to contain and remove the sheen.

Writer: Jessie Brown

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