http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...e=3&u=/ap/20050425/ap_on_fe_st/mystery_chunks
CARROLL, Iowa - City officials are perplexed over the discovery of mysterious chunks of flesh that have been clogging up city water lines. A month ago, city officials sent a hunk of meaty-fatty tissue to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for identification.
As they wait for those results, three similar chunks of fleshy material were found on Thursday in another water main during routine flushing, Public Works Director Randy Krauel said.
A city worker discovered the blockage when a diffuser on a fire hydrant became clogged, Krauel said.
Additional flushing removed two other chunks from water mains, he said.
"Again, we're really not sure what it is," he said. "The pieces kind of looked like the first one. There was no hair and no real bone. There were varying degrees of the substance, whatever it is."
He speculated that the flesh likely belonged to an animal that crawled into a water main somewhere.
The new chunks also were sent to a state lab for identification.
Krauel said drinking water was not affected by the blockages and is safe to drink.
Chlorine levels have been temporarily increased as a precaution, he said.
CARROLL, Iowa - City officials are perplexed over the discovery of mysterious chunks of flesh that have been clogging up city water lines. A month ago, city officials sent a hunk of meaty-fatty tissue to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for identification.
As they wait for those results, three similar chunks of fleshy material were found on Thursday in another water main during routine flushing, Public Works Director Randy Krauel said.
A city worker discovered the blockage when a diffuser on a fire hydrant became clogged, Krauel said.
Additional flushing removed two other chunks from water mains, he said.
"Again, we're really not sure what it is," he said. "The pieces kind of looked like the first one. There was no hair and no real bone. There were varying degrees of the substance, whatever it is."
He speculated that the flesh likely belonged to an animal that crawled into a water main somewhere.
The new chunks also were sent to a state lab for identification.
Krauel said drinking water was not affected by the blockages and is safe to drink.
Chlorine levels have been temporarily increased as a precaution, he said.
