HUMBOLDT — Residents and animals should not enter the water near the Neosho River and its tributary near Humboldt because of possible contamination due to an improvement project.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a stream advisory for an unnamed tributary of Neosho River and the Neosho River near Humboldt.
The stream advisory is a result of a planned operational improvement project at the city of Humboldt’s wastewater plant and the replacement of the city’s disinfection system this week.
The city is replacing the UV disinfection system, which is the final stage of wastewater treatment before being discharged into a small creek to the Neosho River, Humboldt City Administrator Cole Herder said. The project is anticipated to take three days.
“We will contain sewage in the holding lagoon until the UV system is operational. In the unlikely event of raw sewage discharge into the Neosho River, it will be downstream from Humboldt’s raw water intake and will not affect drinking water,” Herder said.
The advisory has been issued because potential elevated bacteria and contaminants may be present in the tributary and the Neosho River near Humboldt. If you live or have activities near this stream, do not enter the stream or allow children or pets to enter the stream.
Kansas Department of Health & Environment will rescind the advisory once the replacement of the disinfection system has been completed and is in operation.
For further information, please contact Herder at 620-473-3232.
