by Amanda Rink, Editor
According to a letter sent to Clarion city officials in August from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the city’s wastewater treatment facility had a violation in July 2025. Records show that an untreated wastewater bypass occurred on July 19, 2025, following a period of wet weather.
While Clarion received only a notice of violation and no fine, neighboring Eagle Grove is facing much steeper consequences. The DNR recently issued Eagle Grove a $10,000 fine after years of repeated wastewater violations.
The DNR says such bypasses are a violation of state law, which prohibits the discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage into the environment. The Iowa Code reads that while it is a violation of law, there are instances in which a bypass is permitted.
The Iowa Code reads: 567—63.6(455B) Bypasses and upsets. 63.6(1) Prohibition. Bypasses from any portion of a treatment facility or from a sanitary sewer collection system designed to carry only sewage are prohibited. The department may not assess a penalty against a permittee for a bypass if the permittee has complied with all of the following:
a. The bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage.
During the time the bypass occurred, Clarion was experiencing an extreme weather event beginning at about 4:00 A.M. Rain came heavy and fast onto the town. The bypass was chosen to prevent property damage to the citizens of Clarion.
According to an article on the DNR’s website: “Heavy rainfall can overload wastewater collection systems and underground sewer pipes carrying sewage to a treatment plant. 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.”
City Administrator Clint Middleton shared with The Wright County Monitor that the wastewater expelled into the creek east of Clarion was mostly rainwater, not sewage, as most would think first when they read wastewater. However, even diluted wastewater can still contain bacteria and other pollutants, which is why the DNR requires strict reporting of all bypasses. There is a sewage slip lining project in the works for select pipes in Clarion to prevent excessive use of wastewater bypasses in the future.
The DNR’s enforcement order against Eagle Grove cited sewage backups into homes, untreated discharges during heavy rain, and even a diesel contamination incident in 2024 that left some residents with fuel-tainted water in their basements. Officials said the city delayed needed sewer repairs for years, which led to environmental damage and health concerns. One event in 2016 saw more than 15 million gallons of wastewater discharged.
Residents interested in reviewing official DNR documents can find them through the state’s online database at https://programs.iowadnr.gov/DocumentSearch.
