The City of Derby Utilities staff said an equipment failure at the Wastewater Treatment Facility caused incoming sewer water to backup and bypass the plant into Spring Creek near the Arkansas River.
While the equipment has since been repaired and all processes at the plant are functioning normally, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a stream advisory recommending residents and animals not enter the water in the area.
Staff are working with the KDHE to get the advisory lifted. The advisory will be lifted once the flows recede and bacteria testing indicates secondary (wading) contact has been deemed safe.
The equipment failure was reported the morning of July 4th.
