(Arnolds Park)– The three to six inches of rain that fell this (Thurs.) morning came down on top of ground that was already saturated from storms last weekend. Among other things, it overwhelmed sewer systems. In order to prevent sewage from backing up into homes and businesses creating a health hazard, the Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary Sewer District was forced to bypass some untreated wastewater.
Ken Hessenius, supervisor of the DNR’s regional field office in Spencer, tells KUOO news his office started getting reports of bypasses around mid-morning. And he says some of it was continuing yet as of mid-afternoon. Hessenius didn’t have an estimate as to just how much wastewater was being bypassed, but he said it had been going on at numerous locations around the lakes.
Hessenius says the situation should not cause any problems for water treatment plants that draw water from the lakes, adding they were notified of the situation.
Hessenius says the DNR has extensive water monitoring data that indicates in extremely wet conditions, the impact of bypassing untreated wastewater on water quality is minimal. Nonetheless, he advises swimmers, especially those with open sores and compromised immune systems, to take extra precautions.
