A mechanical failure at a lift station in Adair County resulted in wastewater being bypassed into a corn field. The DNR says the city of Greenfield’s wastewater treatment plant operator reported the bypass at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, following a pump failure at a lift station located just north of Greenfield along state Highway 25. Authorities report two submersible pumps in the city’s north lift station stopped pumping, most likely because of a plug.
City employees were unable to remove the pumps manually, and a backup pump failed to work. The city pumped wastewater to a nearby corn field to allow city staff to remove the submersible pumps for repair.
Officials estimate 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of wastewater was pumped into the field. A small stream runs adjacent to the field, but officials said there was little chance the waste would come into contact with it.