GRIMES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says staff responded to complaints of odor and discolored water in Little Beaver Creek on Thursday.
The DNR staff traced the "milky-gray" water to discharges from Grimes's wastewater treatment plant "where inadequately treated wastewater and low streamflow caused stagnant conditions," a release states.
The poor quality water in the creek extended downstream from the wastewater plant to the east of Highway 141, according to the DNR.
No fish, living or dead, were seen by investigators.
DNR's central Iowa field office has required the City of Grimes to comply with wastewater requirements. The city plans to connect to the Des Moines Waste Reclamation Authority where the wastewater can be adequately treated.
However, DNR says that process will take time.
The agency is working with the city engineer and plant operation staff to find possible short-term solutions to improve the treatment process. In the meantime, residents are advised to keep their children and pets away from the stream until conditions improve.
The DNR added it "will pursue appropriate enforcement actions."
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