Sand Filters Bypass
On August 1, beginning at 11:45 a.m., the City of Owatonna’s Wastewater Treatment Facility needed to bypass partially-treated wastewater to the Straight River due to heavy rains overwhelming the facility’s capacity. The wastewater released was mostly treated and disinfected; however, the sand filters had to be bypassed to avoid flooding the plant. The bypass is ongoing. Contact with water contaminated with sewage poses a potential health risk. As a precautionary measure, please temporarily avoid contact with river water along the Straight River downstream of the West North Street bridge. Please contact Andrew Fischer, Wastewater Plant Manager at Andrew.fischer@owatonna.gov or call the plant at 507.444.2452 for additional information regarding the bypass.
Following the completion of the Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion project in 2025, the possibility of partially-treated wastewater being bypassed due to wet weather events will be eliminated. The project will greatly expand the plant’s capacity to treat wastewater.