DUBUQUE, Iowa — The Dubuque City Council will soon evaluate a proposed agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) concerning past violations at the City's Water and Resource Recovery Center (WRRC). This agreement, set for discussion on August 18, addresses 72 self-reported permit violations from 2020 to 2024.

The WRRC, responsible for treating wastewater before its release into the Mississippi River, experienced most violations in 2023 and 2024. These were primarily due to biological instability and a contractor error that rendered the facility’s boiler inoperable, causing significant disruptions.

The IDNR's proposed administrative consent order includes a $7,000 penalty, acknowledging the challenges the WRRC faced. Despite these hurdles, the WRRC has reduced violatio

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