(Spirit Lake)– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says atleast two area cities have reported wastewater discharges after heavy rains Wednesday night and early Thursday overwhelmed sewer systems.
DNR officials say the city of Spirit Lake discharged wastewater into East Lake Okoboji. Officials say an unknown amount of wastewater overflowed from manholes at 12th Street and Fargo Avenue and 19th Street and Denver Avenue since about 7:50 a.m. this (Thursday) morning.
In Storm Lake, a manhole on Mae Street was sending wastewater down the street about half a block before entering a storm sewer on Lakeshore Drive that drains into Storm Lake at Chautauqua Bay.
The city estimates wastewater began discharging from the manhole around 3:00 a.m. Thursday at a rate of about 250 gallons per minute.
DNR officials say people and pets should avoid areas near wastewater discharges for 48 hours after the discharge ends.
