A problem at Greenfield Municipal Utilities’ water-treatment plant after overnight severe storms led the utility to ask customers to conserve water Wednesday, Sept. 9. GMU warned that its treated-water supply could be exhausted during the day if the problem was not corrected, KMAland reported, citing a GMU release: KMAland.
Water outage led to closures
The Nodaway Valley Community School District canceled classes after water was unavailable in its buildings. Adair County also shut the 1891 courthouse on Greenfield’s town square for the day, according to the same KMAland report.
Utility response and customer guidance
GMU said it was working with outside entities and vendors to identify the treatment-plant problem and make repairs. The utility said water already in the system was safe to drink, while urging customers to avoid nonessential use and conserve supplies, KMAland reported.
System capacity and planned upgrades
According to an Iowa State Revolving Fund environmental review, Greenfield Municipal Utilities serves a 2020 Census population of 2,062, with a design population equivalent of approximately 2,200 by 2045. The review says a planned treatment-plant upgrade is intended to expand capacity, add redundancy, meet future demand and address microcystin and other cyanotoxins.
The utility office was unoccupied that day as staff focused on the plant, according to KMAland. Customers with a true emergency could call 844-580-0810, choose option 2 and leave a message. GMU said it would provide updates on its Facebook page and website.
