After nearly five inches of rain overnight, floodwaters have overtaken a water plant in a southeast Iowa city. The city of Ottumwa has declared a disaster. About 10 P.M, sewer overflowed into the basement of the Ottumwa Water Works, flooding the main pumps that channel the city’s water supply.
Crews are busy removing those pumps for repairs and are sanitizing the area. Officials say the water supply has not been breached by contamination. Water customers can expect declining water pressure this morning before the pressure drops too low to deliver water to the city later today.
The state of emergency was declared by the mayor about 2 o’clock this morning, allowing the city to request state assistance. A boil order is being issued for Ottumwa as a precaution. Several major employers in Ottumwa will be closed today to conserve water, including the Cargill and John Deere plants. Also, Ottumwa schools will be closed today.