MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Water and Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) had a nearby lightning strike Tuesday evening that affected the control systems of the effluent pumps causing treated effluent to back-up into the UV building.
The emergency float controls functioned properly and took over effluent pumping control but not before water rose several inches and seeped into the UV control modules. This has caused the UV disinfection system to fail. The WRRF is required by permit to use UV disinfection on their treated effluent March 15th- November 15th annually.
The public is advised not to swim in the immediate vicinity of the effluent outfall in the Mississippi River on the other side of the levy from Musser Park until the UV system is repaired. Work is currently underway to repair the system but it is not known at this time how long the system will be down.
For more information call the WRRF at 563-263-2752.