JASPER COUNTY, Iowa – The Iowa DNR is investigating a wastewater discharge currently happening at the Newton Correctional Facility.
Around noon, today, March 29, the Newton Correctional Facility reported a breach in their sanitary waste line. The facility reported that raw wastewater had reached Sewer Creek, which is a tributary to the South Skunk River. To reduce the amount of wastewater leaving the facility, the entire complex is limiting water usage at this time.
In the meantime, until the main is repaired, a contractor has been lined up to haul the waste from the facility to the wastewater treatment plant in Newton. At this time work is underway to get the release stopped and the breach repaired.
DNR Field Office 5 will continue the investigation and determine any necessary enforcement actions.