Wastewater discharge from Sioux City lift station reaches Missouri River

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Field Office in Spencer, Iowa was notified of an untreated wastewater discharge into the Missouri River from the City of Sioux City.

On Wednesday, November 6, the city notified the DNR that nearly two million gallons of untreated wastewater had entered the river after an equipment failure at the Floyd lift station.

Officials say the discharge from the lift station began around 10:15 a.m. The estimated two million gallons of untreated wastewater discharged into Bacon Creek Channel, with an unknown amount reaching the Missouri River. Officials say Bacon Creek Channel was dry before the incident.

Officials say that the discharge has stopped and the lift station is operational. They note that the Bacon Creek Channel is now dry.

The Iowa DNR says that no dead fish have been observed. They have also notified downstream surface water systems with the cities of Council Bluffs, Blair, Nebraska, and Omaha, Nebraska.

The DNR cautions anyone downstream of Sioux City to stay out of the river and that they will follow up with the city for further assessment.