Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources said Monday, that on Sunday, the city of Avoca successfully ended a discharge of untreated wastewater. City officials learned of the discharge Sept. 16, but think it was ongoing since Friday. The city traced it to a partially open valve at a pumping station.

They estimate about 75,000 gallons flowed into a drainage ditch, ending up about 0.25 miles away in the West Branch of the East Nisnabotna River. The city plans to prevent future discharges by fixing the valve.

DNR staff inspected the site Sept. 17 and found evidence of the discharge. The DNR recommends keeping children and pets away from the ditch on the southwest side of the city for the next 48 hours.

DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action.