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SE South Dakota Still Flooded, SC Water Had High Levels of Disinfection Byproduct

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Flooding from the torrential rain that's soaked much of southeastern South Dakota closed schools for a second day today submerged city streets and caused some to evacuate their homes. In Brandon, northeast of Sioux Falls, the heavy rain turned the local golf course into a lake. Portions of the 18-hole course and an office at the clubhouse were flooded.

The cities of Mitchell, Dell Rapids and Madison have been hit especially hard with the area receiving more than 7 inches of rain over two days. At least 20 school districts in the region, as well as Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell and Dakota State University in Madison, were closed today because of flooding.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says high water levels from the Missouri River likely played into a drinking water violation in Sioux City involving disinfection byproducts.

Samples collected mid-August at one of the city’s eight testing sites showed it was a little bit above the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard for trihalomethanes. The city’s running average for that site for the last year is also above the standard.

Julie Sievers is an environmental specialist senior with the Iowa D-N-R. 

The river levels are high right now, very high, which means increased organic matter in the water. They (Sioux City) also have very warm water temperature. Their temperature is some of the highest they’ve seen. 

Sievers (SEE-vers) adds health risks only come from long term exposure to the disinfection byproducts. Sioux City is now using deeper wells which the city says have cooler water and less organic compounds.

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