Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural resources say an air release valve on a forced wastewater main is leaking approximately 100 gallons per day of wastewater into the East Nishnabotna River from under the bridge at West 6th Street, west of Atlantic. In a Press Release late Monday evening, officials said due to the location of the leak, city staff cannot access the leak to repair it, so the city’s engineer has been contacted to determine how to stop this wastewater bypass.

The leak bypasses wastewater only when the lift station pumps are operating-about one hour per day.

Due to the river flow, the amount of wastewater reaching the river is diluted enough so that it is not effecting the environment. However, the DNR will monitor the situation until the leak is stopped.