On June 12th Central Iowa Water Works issued a residential and commercial lawn watering ban citing strain on water treatment facilities because of elevated nitrate concentration in raw source waters.
The press release from CIWW says “Central Iowa Water Works needs to limit the amount of river water that is used in the treatment process because nitrate concentrations in the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers have climbed to near record levels.”
Des Moines Water Works CEO and General Manager Ted Corrigan
Corrigan says the EPA drinking water standard for nitrate is 10 mg/L. He explains what has been different about this year compared to recent spring seasons.
He adds that while farmers continue to implement conservation management practices to ensure good water quality, it will take a joint effort to avoid elevated nitrate levels in source water in the future.
According to CIWW, drinking water continues to meet all state and federal regulations for drinking and household uses. The lawn watering ban affects all CIWW member agencies: City of Ankeny, City of Clive, Des Moines Water Works, City of Grimes, City of Johnston, City of Norwalk, City of Polk City, Urbandale Water Utility, Warren Rural Water District, City of Waukee, West Des Moines Water Works and Xenia Rural Water, as well as communities served by Des Moines Water Works: Alleman, Berwick, Bondurant, Cumming, Pleasant Hill, Runnells, Unincorporated Polk County and Windsor Heights.
The ban remains in effect until further notice.
