Trail Ridge Estates developer fined for stormwater discharge

SOLON — A Coralville developer has agreed to pay a $3,000 penalty after a contractor pumped dirty water from the construction of Trail Ridge Estates, west of Solon, into a storm drain that goes into Mill Creek and later, Lake Macbride.

Watts Group is developing Trail Ridge Estates, a 350-unit mixed-used neighborhood where on July 14 an Iowa Department of Natural Resources employee observed a contractor pumping water out of the stormwater basin into a storm drain.

“The Department observed brown discolored water flowing out of the storm drain outfall and into a tributary of Mill Creek,” states the consent order released Nov. 14.

The contractor said the pump had been running 15 to 20 minutes and agreed to turn it off. The DNR official “discussed proper dewatering techniques” with the contractor, the order states.

The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) sets limits for how much pollution may be discharged into public waterways. Developers often get stormwater discharge permits during construction.

The maximum administrative penalty the DNR can pursue is $10,000.

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