BURLINGTON, Iowa — Officials are working to mitigate the impact of a fertilizer spill in Burlington before contaminated water reaches the Mississippi River.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, a 700-gallon plastic tank of fertilizer fell off a truck around 5 p.m. on Monday, April 22. The incident occurred near the intersection of West and Roosevelt Avenues in Burlington. Officials say the truck's driver stopped but left the scene shortly after.
The DNR says an unknown amount of fertilizer spilled onto the road and into a nearby storm sewer that releases into Hawkeye Creek, which flows into the Mississippi River. Burlington officials are working to capture the creek flow before it reaches the Mississippi and treat it at Burlington's Wastewater Treatment Plant. Iowa DNR is working alongside the City to mitigate the spill's impact.
No dead fish have been found at this time and water samples have been collected. The Iowa DNR encourages residents and their pets to avoid the area.
The investigation into the spill is ongoing.