HESSTON — The organic waste causing fish kill in Middle Emma Creek is molasses.
The substance was discharged into Hesston’s Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility where the high amounts of the substance killed the bacteria in the water, which caused the dissolved oxygen levels to drop, killing the fish downstream.
“None of the effects will be long term,” said Hesston city administrator John Carder.
The molasses was dumped as the Sunglo Feeds plant was being closed.
The city was unaware of the dissolved oxygen problem downstream from the facility because the oxygen levels at the treatment plan remained normal.
“However, the amount of molasses killed the bacteria in our system and we had to reseed it,” Carder said. “We are continually monitoring the situation, and it continues to improve.”
The molasses entered the system June 4, the city was notified of the problem June 5 and evidence was given to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Saturday.
About six miles of the creek have been affected, and within those six miles is where the majority of the fish kill occurred.
A stream advisory was issued for Middle Emma Creek in Harvey County by the KDHE and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks from Northwest 72nd Street and continues six miles downstream to West First Street, west of Newton.
The state departments anticipate low dissolved oxygen, and elevated levels of pathogens and ammonia in the area of Middle Emma Creek as a result of the release. The public and landowners along Middle Emma Creek are advised to avoid contact and to restrict pets and livestock from contact with the creek until the extent of the impact from the release can be determined.
The city will monitor the effluent water in the wastewater treatment plant three times a week until all testing areas are back to normal and include biochemical oxygen demand levels.
The Environmental Protection Agency uses biochemical oxygen demand levels to measure effluent strength and to establish effluent guidelines as required by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
Biochemical oxygen demand is a measure of the content of biologically degradable substances in sewage. The substances are broken down by micro-organisms in the presence of (and with the consumption of) oxygen. Oxygen demand is measured in terms of the oxygen consumed by microorganisms during a period of five days (BOD5) or seven days (BOD7).
The city of Hesston is working with KDHE personnel and also has received assistance from the city of Newton.
Carder said the city of Newton provided bacteria for reseeding into the treatment facility.
