Creeks Overflowing Banks, Crews Pumping Waste Water in Cedar Rapids

City of Cedar Rapids

Water fills a trench on C Avenue NW after heavy rain Wednesday and today, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009. Construction crews are replacing the street near Roosevelt Middle School. (Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Aug 27, 2009 at 9:07 AM CST

Story Updated: Aug 27, 2009 at 4:26 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids has received nearly six inches of rain over the past two days.

The city asks residents to use caution as many city streets are flooding due to the rate and amount of rainfall received. Driving into any flooded intersection requires caution. Many stalled cars have been reported to the police because of higher water levels.

Sections of the sanitary sewer system are beyond capacity and pumps have been established to relieve the system. Also compounding the situation are the improperly installed sump pumps, house drain tiles and gutters to the sanitary sewer system.

Pump sites currently include:
• 1300 block of E Ave NW
• 1500 block of E Ave NW
• 6th St NW at I Ave and J Ave
• 1900 block of 42nd Street NE
• Burch Ave and 21st St NW
• G Ave NE
• Lenox Ave & 40th St NE
• Rockford Rd SW
• Grande Ave & 21st St SE
• 25th Ave & Southland St SW
• Shaver Rd
• 12th St between 15th -16th Ave SW
• D Ave & 24th St NE
• Cottage Grove Parkway SE

Other locations have been identified and City crews continue to place pumps as necessary.

Water Pollution Control is at maximum capacity and untreated waste water is being released into the Cedar River from Cedar Rapids and other communities. Storm water runoff may be contaminated with sanitary sewage. Avoid contact with flood water.

The creeks are as follows:
- Prairie Creek is out of its banks at J Street SW. J St SW is closed and it may be necessary to close Hawkeye Downs Rd this evening.
- Dry Creek is out of its banks. Crews continue to monitor.
- Indian Creek is out of its banks. Crews continue to monitor.

The initial crest level of the Cedar River, as reported Thursday morning, remains unchanged to be at 6-7 feet in the next day which is below flood stage and will not affect roads.

(Video shows drain footage at 15th Street NW and B Ave., Prairie Creek at J Street SW and a trench at C Avenue NW between 11th and 13th Streets. Video by Jeff Raasch)

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