MASON CITY, Iowa - A sewer line collapse in the 300 block of South Rhode Island Ave. is causing the City of Mason City to pump untreated wastewater into the Winnebago River.
The City and their contractor, McKiness Excavating, were unable to complete the repairs to the sewer on Friday and plan to resume working on the repairs on Monday. The affected neighborhood extends east from S. Virginia Ave to S. Kentucky Avenue and south from Highway 122 to 15th Street SE; an area approximately three blocks wide and eleven blocks long.
The sewage is being discharged to a storm sewer that outlets in the Winnebago River near the softball complex on 2nd Street SE.
The DNR asks people to keep children and pets away from the riverbanks near the discharge until 24 hours after repairs are completed.
DNR will continue to monitor the situation and will consider appropriate enforcement action.