A milky discharge in the Kansas River attracted the attention of an environmental group this week and ultimately led to an investigation by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The discharge was traced to the former Astaris phosphate plant in North Lawrence, now owned by Israel Chemicals Ltd., KDHE spokeswoman Sharon Watson said. The discharge stopped after plant officials were notified.

The milky appearance was thought to be caused by a mixing of reverse osmosis wastewater with other types of wastewater from the plant, Watson said.

“It has occurred in the past on a few occasions. It’s been very sporadic,” she said.

KDHE was called Wednesday morning after the discharge was seen near the boat ramp at North Eighth and Oak streets by Laura Calwell, the Kansas Riverkeeper for Friends of the Kaw. Calwell said she had been informed of the discharge by a member of the river group who saw it Tuesday. Calwell said she also had seen the same type of discharge on previous occasions dating back to November 2003.

A milky discharge into the Kansas River was noticed this week near the boat ramp at North Eighth and Oak streets. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment investigated the substance and traced it to a chemical plant in North Lawrence. The discharge stopped after the plant was notified. KDHE is not aware of any problems caused by the substance.

“I have seen it four times over the past two years,” Calwell said.

Calwell said she was at the discharge site when a KDHE investigator was there. The discharge stopped after the investigator called the plant, she said.

The LCL plant manager couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

KDHE is not aware of any problems caused by the milky discharge, Watson said. The plant is meeting state discharge requirements.

Once a month the plant takes a sample of the discharge water and sends it to KDHE for testing. Those samples have not shown any substances in the water to be higher than acceptable levels, Watson said. The plant does have a discharge permit from the state, she said.

“We have no reason to believe that there’s an impact as a result of what is happening,” Watson said. “The company is looking at internal process changes to see if those will address the cloudiness in the water.”

Calwell and Friends of the Kaw also will be monitoring the situation.

“I think it’s a problem and something needs to be done about it,” Calwell said.