The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a red color in Little Beaver Creek after the Grimes wastewater treatment plant reported the red contaminant entering its system Friday afternoon, a statement issued Friday by the DNR said.
The statement said operators from the Grimes treatment plant and DNR staff traced the color to an area in Grimes, but they were unable to positively identify the chemical or its source. The DNR said no dead fish or other environmental effects were seen in the creek.
They confirmed the red discharge is no longer coming into the treatment plant, but it will continue to discharge and may extend downstream. It is possible the red color will enter Beaver Creek on the west side of Camp Dodge in Johnston over the weekend, the DNR said.
The pollutant had not reached the intersection with Highway 141 by 4:45 p.m. Friday, they said.
The DNR said people should keep children and pets out of the stream as a precaution. DNR staff will follow up Monday and try to identify the pollutant and where it came from.
The department responsible for enforcing state and federal laws protecting air, land and water quality in Iowa said it will consider appropriate enforcement action with the city of Grimes and the party responsible for violating a water-quality standard.
