DNR issues drinking water advisory, investigates sewage spill

Iowa Regional Utilities Association issued a precautionary boil advisory for communities north of Marshalltown. (Photo by Peter Cade Stone/Getty Images)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued water-safety related advisories this week, including a boil order in central Iowa and investigation of a wastewater bypass in western Iowa. Both issues were minor and have been managed by local officials.

Boil advisory for Marshall and Grundy counties

Iowa Regional Utilities Association issued a precautionary boil advisory for communities north of Marshalltown following a loss of pressure at a pumping station in northern Marshall County. Iowa Regional Utilities Association announced late afternoon on Friday that bacteria samples came back clean and the boil advisory was lifted.

About 250 service connections were affected in the cities of Liscomb, Conrad and Whitten. The utilities association, which reported the initial pressure loss at their facility at 7 a.m. Wednesday, restored pressure to the pumping station within an hour.

The loss of pressure could allow contaminants to enter the water system, which is why affected areas are advised to boil drinking and cooking water.

The utilities association said the advisory will remain in place until it receives negative results from its bacteria tests.

Denison wastewater discharge

DNR is investigating a wastewater bypass after an estimated 300 gallons of sewage flowed onto the ground at a convenience store in Crawford County on Monday.

Part of the wastewater flowed into a storm sewer that connects to the Boyer River, according to a press release from DNR.

Denison Municipal Utilities reported the discharge, caused by a plugged service connection line, early Monday. The line was cleared and the unwanted sewage flow stopped the same morning.

Kristi Burg, an environmental specialist for DNR in Atlantic, said Denison Municipal Utilities were able to clean the affected area and that samples taken along the Boyer River showed no adverse impact from the incident.

Update:  This story has been updated to report that the boil advisory was lifted late Friday afternoon.