Central Iowa Water Works nitrate removal facility turns off, running for 112 days so far this year
The nitrate removal facility is off, water officials say.
Central Iowa Water Works says it was shut down Friday after running at partial or full capacity since April 28.
The facility runs when drinking water sources for Central Iowa Water Works reach high nitrate levels.
The plant helps to keep nitrates in drinking water at the EPA standard of 10 milligrams per liter.
The plant was first turned on from April 10 to 18.
In 2015, the facility ran for 177 days.
It was first turned on in the early 1990s to deal with the high nitrates in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers.
Those rivers are two of the primary sources for treated drinking water.
A report commissioned by Polk County leaders had 16 scientists conclude that 80% of the nitrate pollution comes from agricultural land.
The EPA set the 10 mg/L standard three decades ago after nitrate was linked to "blue baby syndrome."
