KDHE Issues Warning After 1.4 Million Gallons of Livestock Wastewater Enter Kansas Waterways
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a public warning Oct. 7 after roughly 1.4 million gallons of livestock wastewater was discharged into McIntyre Creek, which flows toward the Kansas River, the Capital-Journal reported.
KDHE advised residents to avoid contact with water in the affected stretch of McIntyre Creek and downstream waters, warning that livestock wastewater can carry elevated levels of bacteria, including E. coli, as well as nutrients that deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life. The discharge originated from a livestock operation in Shawnee County, northeast of Topeka, and officials said the plume was moving downstream toward the Kansas River.
The agency said it was monitoring water quality at multiple points and working with the facility to stop the discharge and prevent recurrence. KDHE stream advisories typically remain in effect until testing shows bacteria levels have returned to safe ranges, a process that can take days depending on flow and weather.
Livestock waste discharges have been a recurring issue in Kansas, where large cattle feedlots and hog operations sit near waterways. Environmental groups have pressed the state for stronger oversight of waste lagoons and land application, while agriculture groups say most operators follow the rules and that accidents are rare.
KDHE said it would update the public as water testing results come in and urged anyone who sees discolored water or dead fish to report it.
Kansas's livestock industry is a pillar of the state economy, and the incident has renewed debate over setback distances between feedlots and waterways.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：堪萨斯河洪水期的河道与水坝。摄影：Junedude433，CC BY-SA 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
