The City of Fort Dodge entered into an administrative consent order in August in regards to a spill that occurred earlier this year.
According to the Order, On February 27th, 2025, the City of Fort Dodge reported to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that a sewer line bypass had occurred on the West side of town. The bypass originated from a sewer line that serves an industrial park. According to a City official, an air relief valve had broken due to cold temperatures. During the initial report, it was noted wastewater had flowed into a crop field but it was unknown if a nearby stream was impacted and the city was in the process of shutting down the sewer line.
About 40 minutes later, the City advised the DNR that the wastewater had in fact reached the stream, and staff would be collecting water samples from the stream and the City was able to stop the bypass from the broken air relief valve.
DNR officials arrived early that afternoon, and observed that wastewater had flowed out of a cement riser along Parker Drive. The wastewater flowed through a road ditch to the East, then North through a crop field and grass buffer strip into a stream. A field test downstream from the spill indicated the presence of ammonia, whereas a test upstream indicated no ammonia. While the DNR was walking from the stream back to the spill location, pooled water was visible and a strong ammonia odor was detected. The DNR notified the City that wastewater had moved farther downstream and it may impact Lizard Creek.
DNR officials moved farther downstream, where the steam entered Lizard Creek. Field tests indicated the presence of ammonia, as well as a noticeable ammonia odor.
DNR officials then spoke to the wastewater operator for the City of Fort Dodge. It was learned that the sewer line from the industrial park can flow up to a few hundred gallons per minute. It was also noted that the City had received complaints of sewer odor from February 26th, 2025, insinuating the bypass could have started then.
On March 20, 2025, the DNR received flow data for the broken sewer line. This data indicated that the spill may have begun on February 23, 2025, and that the amount released could have been as high as 750,000 gallons. A Notice of Violation was sent on April 1st, 2025.
The Consent Order shows The City of Fort Dodge has a history of incidents, including spills relating to the industrial park force main.
In November of 2023, the City reported to the DNR a bypass from an industrial park force main. The City stated that the wastewater pooled in a nearby crop field. Approximately 370,000 gallons of wastewater was released.
In August of 2021, the City reported to the DNR that a bypass occurred due to a leaking valve. Approximately 50 gallons of wastewater was released into a road ditch and a crop field. The City believed that high hydrogen sulfide concentrations in the wastewater was damaging the valves, thus all of them would be replaced.
In June of 2020, the City reported a bypass from an industrial park force main due to a cracked main. Ultimately, it was determined that approximately 1 million gallons had been released. This wastewater entered a blown-out field tile and reached a water of the state. The City reported plans to install additional alarms and controls to notify staff of potential leaks quicker.
The DNR ordered and the City agreed to:
1: Cease all illegal discharges to waters of the State;
2: Cease all illegal bypasses;
3: Submit a written plan to the Department detailing how it will prevent incidents like this in
the future, including information how the City will implement remote monitoring of force mains to detect leaks more quickly and regular physical inspections of air relief valves after extreme cold or unexpected conditions;
4: Develop and submit to the Department an emergency response plan detailing how the City
will quickly clean-up or mitigate environmental damages from bypasses; and
5: Pay an administrative penalty of $8,000.
$2,000 of the penalty is attributed to economic benefit, which is described as costs saved or likely to be saved by noncompliance. The Consent Order asserts the City saved time and money by not conducting visual inspections of valves following cold temperatures and by delaying necessary maintenance.
