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For the last several weeks, Des Moines Water Works has been dealing with elevated nitrate levels in drinking water, forcing its Fleur Drive facility to operate at full capacity for over 66 days straight, a situation it was never designed to handle. The nitrate level peaked on June 12 at more than 9 milligrams per liter, prompting all eight nitrate removal tankers to run daily to maintain safe drinking water.Central Iowa Water Works uses tankers to remove excess nitrate from drinking water, ensuring safety for the public. The facility can clean up to 10 million gallons of drinking water a day, but the near-record-breaking nitrate levels this year have significantly reduced the capacity of the Fleur Drive Water Treatment Plant.Des Moines Water Works COO Kyle Danley said, "It was never intended when it was constructed to be able to meet an unlimited demand of nitrates." He estimates that the facility would need 26 tankers if the nitrate levels remain elevated, but currently, it has only eight. Adding 18 more tankers is not feasible, as each produces almost 50,000 gallons of wastewater that the Water Reclamation Authority must process."They cannot take the industrial loading of 26 vessels. In fact, they have told us they can only take about 25% more than what we're currently producing," Danley said, indicating that only two additional tankers could be accommodated.An expansion wouldn't be needed if the utility can lower the nitrate level before the water is treated. "We've certainly been working with our upstream partners over the last several years, trying to help encourage and see lower nitrate concentrations in our rivers," Danley said. There are also plans underway to expand other treatment plants, like Saylorville and Grimes, offsetting the demand at Fleur Drive.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%Des Moines Water Works CEO links nitrate issue to farm fertilizers Communities can reopen splash pads and spraygrounds, Central Iowa Water Works says Get the Facts: How much water do West Des Moines data centers actually use?Splash pads turn back on one week later after new guidance from CIWWCentral Iowa water officials squash rumors that drinking water is unsafeCentral Iowa water quality experts say at-home nitrate test kits are unreliableMore Iowans considering at-home water treatment systems amid water quality concerns����vlog Investigates: Water demand shot up day before lawn watering ban began, data shows This week's rain doesn't help high nitrate levels and the watering ban. Here's why.Answers to frequently asked questions about Iowa water quality, nitrates, testing and moreInside Central Iowa Water Works' testing laboratoryStudy of births in Iowa finds potential prenatal risk linked to nitrates in drinking waterSource water nitrate levels still elevated, but are improving, Central Iowa Water Works saysPolk County supervisor speaks on new water quality report and its findingsPolk County water report pins unhealthy rivers on ag pollution