Ethanol and lysine production wastewater discharge under investigation in Iowa

In Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources environmental specialists responded to a wastewater discharge to surface water originating from ethanol and lysine production.

A leak from a force main carrying mixed wastewater from both the Cargill Ethanol plant and the CJ Bio America Lysine production plant to the city’s wastewater treatment plant entered a surface water intake that was eventually discharged to Lizard Creek. The bypass was reported to the DNR on Thursday but believed to have started Wednesday evening. Wastewater was rerouted early Thursday morning through another force main to the wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater entered a surface intake in a cornfield and discharged to a drainage ditch, which flows into Lizard Creek.

Samples from Lizard Creek have been collected and based on preliminary results, ammonia and oxygen levels appear to test normal.  No impact to aquatic life has been documented as a re