IA DNR: Wastewater Bypasses in Eddyville, Wapello and Solon

MEDIA CONTACTS: Call (515) 725-0268 and contact Dennis Appelhons or James Stricker at james.stricker@dnr.iowa.gov for Eddyville. Call (319) 653-213 and contact Terry Jones at terry.jones@dnr.iowa.gov for Solon or contact Jim Sievers at jim.sievers@dnr.iowa.gov for Wapello.

DES MOINES – Three out-of-the ordinary wastewater releases have occurred in Eddyville, Wapello and Solon.

In Eddyville, the Ajinomoto plant, at 1 Ajinomoto Dr., released an estimated 1.3 million gallons of wastewater to a small creek south of town during the last four days. Ajinomoto officials think wastewater is still primarily in the creek. The creek flows into the Des Moines River about 15 miles northwest of Ottumwa.

Normally the wastewater flows into the Cargill plant for treatment. Cargill discovered the release initially after plant operators noticed they had not received any wastewater from Ajinomoto, a food seasoning plant. A security guard at the Ajinomoto plant also discovered a broken pipe that allowed the wastewater to bypass treatment. As a result, the plant stopped the flow about 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Plant officials indicated the wastewater is mildly basic (the opposite of acidic). However, it also has high ammonia concentrations and high organic content, both of which can be toxic to fish and aquatic life.

The DNR is requiring the Ajinomoto plant to dam the small creek, pump the wastewater out of the creek and truck it to Cargill for treatment. The company must also collect water samples and test pH on the Des Moines River. Two dead fish have been discovered during the sampling.

Environmental specialists from the DNR will continue to investigate.

In Louisa County, the City of Wapello reported Monday that levels in the Iowa River are so high that the river is flowing through a combined sanitary and storm sewer pipe back towards town. The flow has overwhelmed a pumping station where wastewater is normally pumped to a lagoon for storage.

The city wastewater treatment operator is storing wastewater in the underground pipes that normally run to the wastewater treatment plant until the pressure builds up enough to force wastewater back out the pipe and into the river. They are also trying to find a way to block the combined sanitary and storm water sewer pipe.

The operator said that he did not expect wastewater to backup into residents’ basements based on experience in the flood of 1993.

The backflow problem should ease on Thursday when the Iowa River is expected to crest.

Wapello is one of nine communities in Iowa that has combined sanitary and storm water sewer systems. The city has signed a consent order with the DNR to separate the sewers over the next 16 years.

In Johnson County, the city of Solon reported discharges from three different manholes on the north side of town Monday. Combined, the three discharges total about 10 gallons per minute of untreated wastewater flowing to Mill Creek.

City officials are unsure of the problem’s cause, but are treating it as a blocked pipe. The city is having the pipelines cleaned out, but muddy conditions are hampering the cleaning efforts.

The DNR is requiring the city to collect water samples for testing and notify downstream water users.