Heavy rainfall across Iowa has caused flooding at several communities and facilities, including wastewater bypasses and a biosolids runoff event, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The DNR said several communities and facilities have reported flooding impacts and wastewater bypasses to its field offices. Heavy rainfall can overwhelm wastewater collection systems, particularly those with aging infrastructure, potentially causing sewage to back up into homes. Bypassing can reduce pressure in overloaded collection systems and help prevent basement backups.

In Wapello County, several inches of rain fell over a short period, saturating a stockpile of pressed wastewater biosolids near an agricultural site northeast of Kirkville. Runoff from the site entered a drainage ditch that flows to Cedar Creek.

DNR staff are monitoring the site and have collected water samples. A soil berm is being constructed to prevent additional impacts to Cedar Creek, while remaining biosolids will be land-applied and material in the road ditch will be excavated.

The DNR advised the public and pets to avoid flooded waterways and specifically recommended avoiding Cedar Creek north of Kirkville as a precaution. The agency said it was not aware of any impacts to municipal drinking water supplies or fish kills at the time of the update.