STORM LAKE, IOWA – Wastewater was accidentally discharged from the Tyson Foods Inc. plant in Storm Lake into the city’s storm sewers, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The discharge lasted less than an hour, from approximately 2:25 a.m. to 2:58 a.m., and was estimated to release approximately 16,500 gallons of wastewater, some of which reached the lake. The DNR said the likely cause was a malfunctioning pump at the plant. Tyson clean-up officials began pumping up the contaminated water from a storm water detention basin where sewer water empties.

“We took immediate action to contain the accidental release of water from the plant and are working cooperatively with city and state officials as we continue to implement our containment and cleanup measures and further evaluate the matter,” Tyson officials said in statement.

According to the DNR, the incident isn’t expected to have an environmental impact due to the limited amount of water reaching the lake. City officials are monitoring the cleanup and will determine if any applicable penalties will be assessed.