Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Environmental Services Division

 

For Immediate Release                                                             

March 24, 2009

 

DNR ADVISES BRITT RESIDENTS TO AVOID AREA FOLLOWING WASTEWATER DISCHARGE

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Baskins at (515) 249-2814 or Al Tompkins, DNR Mason City field office, at (641) 424-4073 or [log in to unmask]

 

BRITT — The DNR is advising residents of Britt in Hancock County to avoid a wastewater discharge along a section of Third Avenue.

 

While cleaning debris plugging a sewer line Tuesday morning, city employees pumped untreated wastewater from a manhole to the street. Wastewater flowed about half a block until entering a storm sewer intake, which the city believes to discharge to the West Branch Iowa River. The discharge began at 10:00 a.m.

 

People and pets should avoid Third Avenue SE between First Street SE and Center Street for 48 hours.

 

The DNR encourages cities and facilities in these situations to make efforts to pump the wastewater to the next manhole or find another way to transport it to a treatment plant.

 

The city cleaned the sewer line and stopped the discharge by 2:50 p.m.

 

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