Following several days of heavy rainfall across the state, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources encourages the public to stay out of streams until the waters recede. A news release from the DNR states that several communities and facilities experiencing flooding across the state have notified DNR Field Offices of flooding impacts and wastewater bypasses. Currently, the department is unaware of impacts to municipal drinking water supplies or fish kills. DNR staff will continue to monitor these situations and assist impacted communities. Heavy rainfall events can overload wastewater collection systems, which are underground sewer pipes that carry sewage to a treatment plant. Some collection systems are particularly vulnerable due to aging infrastructure. With sewage pipes overwhelmed, excess water has nowhere to go and can back up into basements through floor drains. Bypassing can lower the water level and alleviate pressure in the collection system, keeping sewage from backing up into basements, which could present health risks. It is recommended people and pets avoid these areas and stay out of flooded waterways.
