ESTHERVILLE, IOWA – A break in a wastewater force main in Jackson, Minn., early on April 8 resulted in raw wastewater entering the Des Moines River about 20 miles north of Estherville, Iowa.
The force main broke at about 1 AM. An estimated 10,000 gallons of wastewater per hour was flowing into a storm drain that drains into the river when the break occurred. Repair crews fixed the force main about 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Iowa DNR staff said because of high volume and swift currents in the river the already dilute wastewater is not expected to have an impact.