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Industrial wastewater discharge in Storm Lake

  • 2/19/2020 3:48:00 PM
  • View Count 2610
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STORM LAKE—An equipment failure at Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., in Storm Lake caused a discharge of untreated wastewater into the city’s storm sewers early Wednesday morning.

Officials at the Tyson plant notified Iowa DNR about 2 a.m., initially estimating about 10,000 gallons were lost before they could stop the discharge.

The storm sewers empty into a detention pond near the intersection of E. Lakeshore Drive and Flindt Drive. The city began pumping from the pond about 3 a.m. to prevent process wastewater from entering the lake. However, city staff say an unknown amount of wastewater likely reached the lake.

The city collected water samples to test for indications of wastewater in the lake.

DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action.

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