Heavy rains tax Cedar Rapids sanitary sewage system

CEDAR RAPIDS - Heavy rain over 48 hours has taxed the city's sanitary sewer system and its wastewater treatment facility, forcing the city to send partially treated wastewater into the Cedar River, Steve Hershner, the city's utilities director, reported Thursday afternoon.

In addition, Hershner said that stormwater has seeped into the city's sanitary sewer system at certain spots in the city, which has required the city to pump effluent out of the sanitary sewer system and into the storm sewer system, sending it directly into waterways and ultimately the Cedar River.

At some spots along Indian Creek, stormwater has gotten into the sanitary sewer system, filling it up and forcing its way out of manhole covers and onto the ground, he said.

As required, the city has notified the Iowa Department of Natural Resources of the bypasses at the treatment plant and at spots in the sewer system.

Hershner predicted that the problems would end on Friday or Saturday with a reduction in the amount of rain.

All the wastewater entering the city's sewage treatment plant at Bertram Road and Highway 13 is undergoing primary and secondary treatment, just not final treatment and disinfection, he added.

Craig Hanson, the city's public works maintenance manager, reported Thursday that about 30 homes experienced sewer backups in basements during the heavy rain, which he characterized as a once-in-every-10-year rain.