Farm chemicals spilled into Long Creek

A Washington fertilizer plant is cleaning up Wednesday following a release of herbicides and farm chemicals to a creek near the southeast side of Washington, a press release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported.

A resident near South 14th Street and East Adams Street reported a strong chemical odor and milky white color in his neighborhood stream Tuesday evening. Upon investigation, the DNR traced the spill to the Liqui-Grow fertilizer plant on the north side of Washington.

Liqui-Grow estimates that at least 400 to 500 gallons of rinse water containing the farm chemicals reached an unnamed tributary of the South Fork of Long Creek.

Residents, pets and livestock should avoid the creek for at least 48 hours.

For more coverage of this event, see the April 19 edition of The Washington Evening Journal.