Quimby, Iowa — Untreated sewage is being released into the Little Sioux River in Cherokee County. And there’s nothing that can be done about it right now.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, a broken sewer force main under the Little Sioux River in Cherokee County has caused wastewater to flow into the river.
The city of Quimby reported the break about 10:30 a.m. Monday. The city’s wastewater operator says they can’t get close to the area because of flooding. After water levels drop, they can determine where the sewer line is broken and how to fix it.
The DNR says that about 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of untreated wastewater is entering the river each day.
The National Weather Service says the Little Sioux crested at Cherokee on Saturday afternoon at 20.7 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet. It was at 19.3 feet on Tuesday afternoon and was forecast to keep falling into the upcoming weekend.
