Sioux City Wastewater Discharge Contained

An equipment failure at the Floyd lift station in Sioux City led to the discharge of an estimated 2 million gallons of untreated wastewater into Bacon Creek Channel, which flows into the Missouri River, on Wednesday. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported that the creek was dry prior to the incident, minimizing the wastewater's impact, and no dead fish have been observed. The discharge began around 10:15 a.m. and was halted within an hour after the city notified the DNR. Officials have cautioned recreational users downstream to avoid the river for the time being. The DNR has notified cities such as Council Bluffs, Blair, and Omaha as a precautionary measure, and will follow up for further assessments. The city plans to upgrade the faulty equipment in 2026 as part of a larger wastewater treatment improvements project.