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Environment

Davenport Will Build a Bio-Reactor

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The site of the new bio-reactor in Davenport, at E. 32nd St. and Fair Ave.
Credit WVIK Staff
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey

With help from the State of Iowa, Davenport will start an experiment to clean storm water before it runs off into Duck Creek. The Public Works Department will soon start building what's called a bio-reactor near East 32nd Street and Fair Avenue.

The bio-reactor will be a trench 100 feet long and 25 feet wide, filled with wood chips and designed to help clean nitrates and sediment from the water before it gets into the creek. 

On hand to tour the site Monday was Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. He says there are many similar projects underway in rural parts of the state, but this one will be the first in an urban area. 
The project will cost about $68,000 with about half from the state and half from the city. 

Once the water goes through the bio-reactor, it will then travel across a buffer zone of land before it can run off into Duck Creek. 
The project is on city-owned land that it took over after severe floods in the early nineties.