OTTUMWA – The Cargill Meat Solutions Plant in Ottumwa reported a discharge from the plant into a storm sewer on March 3rd.
A short in a power panel caused process waste water to back up and bypass the industrial treatment system about 7 p.m. An estimated 20,000 gallons of untreated wastewater flowed into the storm sewer during the 12 minutes before a backup pump began operating.
The storm sewer flows into the Des Moines River.
The DNR will continue to monitor the situation.
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