DENISON, IOWA — Industrial wastewater from an Iowa meatpacker contaminated a river this weekend.
According to a DNR environmentalist, a “small amount” of process wastewater reached the Boyer River in Denison, Iowa Sunday afternoon.
Alarms rang about 2:45 p.m. at Smithfield Foods when a wastewater processer malfunctioned. Staff immediately closed a nearby storm drain. But an estimated 50 to 100 gallons had already flowed through the storm drain and into the Boyer River.
Smithfield staff continue cleanup efforts. DNR does not recommend recreation in the area until cleanup is complete.
DNR will monitor cleanup and consider appropriate enforcement action.