The Mississippi ran a little thicker in Keokuk late last week. The Iowa D.N.R. is reporting that an open drain valve at Roquette America in Keokuk resulted in 6,000 gallons of corn syrup being spilled into the river.
D.N.R. people say a worker at the corn processing plant failed to close a drain valve when a tank was being cleaned on Thursday. The spill was discovered Friday morning.
The D.N.R. says corn syrup can lower oxygen levels and be toxic to fish but because it was highly diluted in the river, the spill was not expected to have a significant environmental impact.
Roquette America faces a fine for failing to report the spill.
Phil Roberts Davenport