UAN Fertilizer Spill Reaches Mississippi River Tributary Near Fort Madison
A liquid fertilizer spill of UAN (urea ammonium nitrate) occurred at the Merschman Fertilizer facility near Fort Madison, Iowa, reaching a tributary that flows into the Mississippi River. Cleanup efforts are in progress, and an investigation is ongoing.
Davenport Rock Island Moline, IA, October 27, 2026 —
A liquid fertilizer spill involving UAN, or urea ammonium nitrate, occurred at the Merschman Fertilizer facility near Fort Madison, Iowa, and reached a tributary that flows into the Mississippi River, according to the available information.
Cleanup efforts are in progress, and an investigation is ongoing. No further details were provided about when the spill occurred, how much fertilizer was released, or how it reached the tributary. The available information also does not identify the agency or organization leading the cleanup or investigation.
The extent of any effects on the tributary or the Mississippi River has not been specified. No water-quality findings, environmental assessments, or details about monitoring were provided. It is also unclear whether any drinking-water systems, wildlife, or other areas were affected. Those outcomes should not be inferred from the fact that the fertilizer reached a waterway.
The information provided does not state whether the facility was operating under any restrictions, whether officials issued public advisories, or whether any permits or regulatory requirements are under review. It also does not include an account from the facility or from public agencies involved in the response.
The investigation is ongoing, but no timeline for its completion or details about its scope were given. The amount spilled, the specific location where the fertilizer entered the tributary, and the status of cleanup work remain unreported in the available summary. Further findings could clarify the spill’s size and any documented effects, but no such conclusions have been provided so far.
Story summarized from the original created by KWQC staff on www.kwqc.com, see more information here.
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