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Filter at fault for spill at plant
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MONROE - The Monroe Wastewater Treatment Plant had a malfunction Thursday when a portion of water meant to go through its final process did not make it.

Utilities Supervisor Mike Kennison said the spill at the plant was final affluent, or chlorinated water, that was meant to run through the last filter but instead fell into the backwash tank, which overflowed. The water was meant to go through a sand filter to be stripped of its chlorine before being released into Honey Creek.

Kennison said it missed a step when the filter failed, and the water fell back instead of proceeding forward.

"There's a good chance the chlorine would have disappeared by the time it was noticed," Kennison said.

He added that there was no need for clean up and that it had dissipated in the time it took workers to notice and that no damage of any kind occurred as a result of the event. However, because the backwash tank is not supposed to overflow, Kennison said they will have to report the malfunction to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.



- Bridget Cooke