For immediate release: AUG. 31, 2009 REPAIRS ON BURLINGTON BYPASS DELAYED BY HIGH RIVER LEVELS MEDIA CONTACT: Paul Brandt at the DNR Washington field office at (319) 653-2135 or [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> BURLINGTON – A leak discovered Aug. 18 in a Burlington sewer line continues to send untreated wastewater to the Mississippi River. The leak was originally estimated to be between 300 and 1,500 gallons per minute. When city staff visited the site Aug. 21, they reported the leak was considerably less than 200 gallons per minute. Repairs of the line have been slowed by its location south of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad river bridge. The site is inaccessible except by boat. The city contracted with a marine transportation company and a construction company Aug. 25 to make the repairs, but delayed the job because of the weather forecast. Now, the site is under water and the river will have to drop about 4.5 feet before repairs can begin. The city expects work to start about Sept. 8 The DNR has requested that the city notify the drinking water supplies in Keokuk and Fort Madison of the discharge. - 30 - Karen Grimes Communications Bureau Iowa DNR 502 East Ninth Street Des Moines, IA 50319-0034 (515) 281-5135 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/