Drop lawn water voluntarily by 50% to reduce supply issue, water officials urge central Iowans
Central Iowa water officials are asking for all residential and commercial customers to cut lawn watering by 50 percent. This is a voluntary conservation measure but a more dire one than originally requested.
If demand does not decline, Central Iowa Water Works says lawn watering will be prohibited.
The water treatment plants and nitrate removal facility are all operating at full capacity.
“Water production is significantly reduced at the Fleur Drive Treatment Plant because of near-record-high nitrate concentrations. We cannot use the Raccoon River as a source for treatment,” said Tami Madsen, executive director of Central Iowa Water Works. “Our treatment plants and the nitrate removal facility are running at capacity. While all finished water meets regulations for drinking, we are at risk of violating the nitrate standard if customer demand does not decrease.”
On May 30, residents were asked to reduce lawn watering by 25%.
Recent tests show nitrate levels are close to the EPA standard, requiring the higher conservation request. It's been 30 years since the levels exceeded that standard.
The water works' nitrate removal facility has been running since April 28.
In a previous interview with vlog, water officials said they turn on the facility when tests show 8 or 9 milliliters of nitrate per liter. The EPA standard is 10 milliliters. The standard was set in the 1990s because of what is known as "blue baby syndrome."
Central Iowa Water Works tests multiple samples each day and has a lab onsite.
There are 600,000 customers for CIWW, the regional water authority.
Central Iowa Water Works offers these tips to reduce lawn watering usage:
- If you normally run your sprinklers for an hour, water for 30 minutes.
- If you water for three days, only water one.
- Consider watering only your front lawn.
- Water in the early morning or late evening, not both.
- Do not water on Monday.