JEFFERSON, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced that the recent murky water seen near North Raccoon River was caused by a worker dumping wastewater in the wrong manhole in Jefferson.

On Wednesday, the DNR announced it had discovered dark-colored water in a stormwater ditch in Daubendiek Park in Jefferson, which drains to the North Raccoon River. During an investigation multiple pockets of murky water was found in the ditch.

City of Jefferson staff constructed a berm to prevent the contaminated water from reaching the river. The DNR said nearly 6,000 gallons of contaminated water was pumped out of the ditch.

On Friday, the DNR said it received a call from a resident who reported seeing a septic company vehicle dumping wastewater into a manhole located at the north end of Kelso Park.

Jefferson Public Works officials and the Greene County Sheriff’s office contacted the owner of the septic company, who said he told his employee to dump the water in a manhole at that location because of the normal dumpsite at the wastewater plant being blocked by construction. The DNR said the employee unknowingly chose the storm sewer manhole. An estimated 1,000 gallons of septic waste was dumped into the storm sewer system, the DNR said.

To report

Iowa News: