Former Ames Water Plant Official Accused of Falsifying Sample Results Withdraws Request

A former City of Ames water treatment plant operator, who was accused of falsifying water sampling results, withdrew his request to renew his drinking water operator certification and will never apply for one again as part of an agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Wayne Magden, a former water plant operator, was placed on administrative leave in April 2011 for allegedly failing to collect water samples and conduct tests according to documents provided by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Thursday.

Magden worked as a plant operator from October 1979 until April 2011 when he was placed on administrative leave, an Iowa DNR Administrative Consent Order said. He later resigned his position. According to the DNR documents, the City of Ames recorded Magden using hidden video cameras and allegedly recorded Magden's failure to collect all required samples and tests. Documents said he wrote results in a log book anyway.

Magden agreed that he will not file any future application with the Department for water treatment or water distribution or file an application to work as a wastewater operator, the order said.

The agreement was signed in February. Magden's certificates expired in July 2011. See the attached document for more.

A woman who answered a phone listed under Magden's name said he had retired and had no comment.