(Arnolds Park)– Officials say a very small amount of sewage is leaking up through a crack in Highway 71 at Ackley Street in Arnolds Park…but they aren’t sure where it’s coming from.
City Clerk Ron Walker tells KUOO news crews have been doing some exploratory digging a couple of days already…and so far, they don’t have a clue where it’s coming from. He says more digging will be done next week on the east side of the highway.
Barb Lynch of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ regional environmental office in Spencer says the amount of wastewater oozing through the crack is very minute. So far, she says it isn’t enough to cause any concerns with public health or contamination of East or West Lake Okoboji. However, Lynch says D-N-R crews will be “shock-chlorinating” a storm sewer catch basin in that area through the weekend as a precaution.
Lynch says bacteria tests near Funtime Rentals and the grade have turned up extremely small levels of fecal coliform bacteria. She says they are well below the level the D-N-R considers to be unsafe.
Walker says they’re hopeful the further exploratory digging Monday will turn up the source of the leak once and for all. He says his worst fear is that they may have to dig up a portion of Highway 71 to get to the problem. The concrete in that area is said to be about 18 inches thick.
