(Spirit Lake)– Officials are now saying a wastewater discharge into Big Spirit Lake Wednesday was smaller than first thought.
In a press release issued this (Friday) afternoon by the DNR, the agency says it’s been told by the Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District that less than 100 gallons of wastewater reached the lake.
The DNR says fish are safe to eat and that bacteria levels at beaches on Big Spirit are safe. Monitoring results show bacteria levels at Orleans Beach and Marble Beach were both well below the limit at which the DNR issues a swimming advisory.
Having said that, the DNR is still telling swimmers and anglers to follow normal precautions.
The spill took place Wednesday afternoon when a broken sewer main resulted in some wastewater flowing into the southwest side of the lake through a tile line. The Sanitary District repaired the main Wednesday evening.
