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Metro area splash pads and spray grounds will be allowed to reopen and operate as normal, Central Iowa Water Works said on Wednesday.The water authority has been focused on conserving water in recent weeks as increased nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers threaten the quality of central Iowans' drinking water.Last week, CIWW officials announced a ban on lawn watering for 600,000 residential and commercial customers the water authority serves. At the same time, central Iowa communities opted to shut down their splash pads, spraygrounds and wading pools to help conserve water.The water works' nitrate removal facility has been running continuously since April 28.The EPA standard for acceptable nitrates in drinking water is 10 milligrams per liter. As of Wednesday, nitrate concentration levels in the Des Moines River were 14.9 mg/L and the Raccoon River was at 13.8 mg/L. Levels Monday in finished water were 3.49 mg/L at the Saylorville plant, 7.70 mg/L at the Fleur plant and 8.14 at the McMullen plant, according to dmww.com. The standard was set in the 1990s because of what is known as "blue baby syndrome.""With the Polk County Extreme Temperature Plan being activated, Central Iowa Water Works wants to ensure all members of our community have equitable opportunities to cool off this week," CIWW said in a statement on Wednesday. "While nitrate concentrations are high enough to continue the lawn watering ban to ensure all drinking water standards can be met, splash pads and spray grounds will reopen because they only use a combined 1 million gallons of water a day in the water system. Lawn watering uses 40 million gallons or one-third of the treatment system’s capacity during summer months."The lawn watering ban remains in effect.Shortly after the CIWW announcement on Wednesday, the city of Des Moines announced that starting on Thursday, all of its spraygrounds will open with reduced hours of noon to 6 p.m. daily, all splash pools will open with regular hours, and the Ashfield Park Wading Pool will remain closed.The city of Johnston said the splash pad at the Johnston Town Center will open on Thursday with reduced hours of 1 p.m.-6 p.m.WATCH: Central Iowa Water Works executive director: 'Source water quality issue ... not a water quantity issue'Recent coverage of central Iowa water issuesCentral Iowa officials ban lawn watering to avoid potential 'water crisis'What are nitrates in drinking water and why Iowa officials are watching closelyLIST: Which Iowans are included in the ban on lawn watering?Des Moines shuts down spraygrounds as central Iowa cities work to conserve waterClive residents respond to lawn watering ban amid high nitrate levelsCentral Iowa landscaping businesses adapt to lawn watering banLawn watering ban still in place for more than 600,000 central Iowans; water usage drops by 30% FULL NEWS CONFERENCE: Officials give updates on central Iowa water conservation efforts, nitrate levelsWho is banned from watering their lawns?The ban affects all CIWW member agencies, including:City of AnkenyCity of CliveDes Moines Water Works and communities served by Des Moines Water Works (Alleman, Berwick, Bondurant, Cumming, Pleasant Hill, Runnells, unincorporated Polk County and Windsor Heights)City of GrimesCity of JohnstonCity of NorwalkCity of Polk CityUrbandale Water UtilityWarren Rural Water DistrictCity of WaukeeWest Des Moines Water WorksXenia Rural WaterWATCH: West Des Moines Water Works general manager talks about future plans for nitrate treatmentWATCH: Clive residents respond to lawn watering ban amid high nitrate levelsWATCH: 'What is nitrate and where does it come from?': Des Moines Water Works CEO explains