A simple broken pipe in a system for land-applying treated effluent from a wastewater treatment lagoon on Wednesday was all it took to release over 12,000 gallon of treated wastewater into an unnamed creek that drains into Lincoln Lake at Cuivre River State Park, east of Troy. According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, park officials notified the department’s St. Louis Regional Office Wednesday afternoon after a park employee discovered the broken pipe at approximately 12:30 p.m. Officials believe that the break was discovered about an hour after it occurred. Water samples have been taken of the treated wastewater that was discharged to determine if any environmental damage has occurred. Beaches at the lake have been closed. Park staff will continue to warn visitors of the release.

For more information on water quality issues, contact the Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program at 573-751-1300 or 800-361-4827 or visit the department Web site at dnr.mo.gov. To report an environmental emergency, even something as seemingly innocuous as a sewage overflow, contact the DNR spill line at 573 634 2436.