Linn County Public Health is seeking a $20,000 civil penalty from Northern Dewatering after recently discovering as many as 40 unpermitted wells at the construction site for a QTS data center.
Linn County Public Health (LCPH) requested that the Linn County Attorney’s Office issue the citation, and also issued a notice of violation to the company.
On June 24, LCPH environmental quality staff visited the site at 4300 76th Avenue SW to inspect a permitted well at a concrete batch plant. During the visit, staff discovered a dewatering well installed without a permit, according to the county.
An investigation later found up to 40 additional unpermitted wells on the east end of the construction site, drilled between May 20 and June 11, with pumping starting on June 9.
The notice of violation sent on July 28 cited Northern Dewatering, based in Rogers, Minn., for violating Chapter 10, Article V, Section 10-144 of the Linn County Code of Ordinances. LCPH is working with the company to obtain proper permitting and inspections for the wells.
The wells were installed for construction purposes. LCPH said it has no jurisdiction over municipal water systems or aquifer management, which are regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Any potential long-term impact on the water supply would be assessed by the IDNR.
“I have had frank conversations with QTS about this issue,” Linn County Supervisor Kirsten Running-Marquardt said in a statement. “Accountability by all parties is paramount, especially when we are working with something as critical as our water resources. Corporations, contractors, and their subcontractors need to be held accountable when they fail to follow permitting requirements we have in place to protect our residents and our resources. QTS has assured us they understand the seriousness of the situation and are working to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.”
