40 unpermitted wells at Cedar Rapids construction site raise questions, review

CEDAR RAPIDS — The discovery of dozens of temporary, unpermitted wells on a Cedar Rapids construction site has set off a flurry of public confusion and regulatory response across several governmental bodies.

Municipal, county and state officials have been working with several private entities to address issues identified at a sanitary sewer extension project site near the future QTS Data Center campus in southwest Cedar Rapids.

The wells — which are relatively shallow and used for temporary construction purposes — are not expected to impact the water supply for surrounding municipalities, although proper permits and monitoring are still required to ensure safe drill and discharge practices.

How were the wells discovered?

Officials with Linn County Public Health visited the construction site in the area of 76th Avenue SW and Old Bridge Road on June 24, according to a written statement from Linn County Public Health Environmental Branch Manager Dustin Hinrichs.

Hinrichs wrote that staff were completing a site visit for a permitted well when they discovered a nearby dewatering well that appeared to be installed without the proper permits. That discovery led to further investigation and the identification of additional unpermitted wells.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources became involved, as well, and DNR staff made their own site visit on July 17. There, they identified daily water usage exceeding 25,000 gallons a day that had not been registered with the department.

County and DNR staff were concurrently communicating with officials from the city of Fairfax, who had raised concerns and questions related to well projects and permits within and near city limits. The project site off 76th Avenue is in Cedar Rapids, although it’s near Fairfax.

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Who is behind the project?

The sanitary sewer project is being completed on behalf of QTS Data Centers, a Kansas-based company planning a $750 million data center campus in southwest Cedar Rapids’ Big Cedar Industrial Center.

The project — the largest in Cedar Rapids history in terms of economic development investment — is one of two data center projects planned at the industrial center. The other is a $576 million campus from Google.

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Elder Corporation was contracted to serve as the project site manager for the sanitary sewer project, and that company then subcontracted with Northern Dewatering to install the dewatering wells. Officials from both companies declined to comment.

A QTS spokesperson told The Gazette via email that the company “continues to work closely with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Linn County Public Health Department” to remain in compliance with necessary regulations.

What issues were found on the property?

In addition to the one dewatering well identified during the initial visit, Hinrichs said public health officials located as many as 40 additional wells drilled on the east end of the construction site. All were seemingly installed by Northern Dewatering without proper permitting.

Dewatering wells are those used to remove ground- and surface water from an excavation site to create a dry and stable soil environment ahead of construction. QTS identified them as dewatering sumps that are “standard” and “temporary.”

Further, the company said there was no point at which all 40 wells were operating simultaneously since each well was decommissioned as work in its immediate area was complete. Given their relatively shallow nature, QTS said the wells do not impact the municipal water supply.

During its July 17 site visit, the Iowa DNR found eight pumps running that exceeded combined daily withdrawals of more than 25,000 gallons. Elder Corporation had not registered for withdrawals of that level as required by the state, and the company received a notice of violation.

Further, DNR staff found that Elder Corporation “failed to implement” required operating, monitoring and record-keeping procedures for its dewatering discharges as outlined in the permit it did have for the project.

What happens now?

Elder Corporation has until Aug. 4 to address its issues with the state through submitting a water use registration for withdrawals exceeding 25,000 gallons per day and implementing the necessary operating, monitoring and recording keeping procedures.

Linn County staff are currently working with Northern Dewatering to obtain the necessary permitting and inspections for the existing and future dewatering wells, Hinrichs said. The county also is expected to issue the company a notice of violation, along with a possible monetary fine.

Work on the broader QTS data center project is ongoing, and construction is expected to take place in two phases over the next several years. The project is expected to contribute to hundreds of construction jobs in the area, as well as at least 30 full-time jobs upon completion.

QTS will host a groundbreaking celebration at its southwest Cedar Rapids site next week, on Tuesday, July 29. Several elected officials — including Gov. Kim Reynolds, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell — will speak at the event, and QTS will announce community partnerships and present checks to local organizations.

Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com