Source water nitrate levels still elevated, but are improving, Central Iowa Water Works says
Source water nitrate levels still elevated, but are improving, Central Iowa Water Works says
EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. WELL, STAYING ON THE TOPIC OF WATER, THE NITRATE LEVELS IN THE DES MOINES AND RACCOON RIVERS ARE DROPPING. GREAT NEWS. YESTERDAY, THE LEVEL IN THE DES MOINES RIVER WAS MEASURED AT NEARLY 14MG/L. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT’S NOW JUST OVER 12.5, AND EVEN MORE IMPROVEMENT IS SEEN IN THE RACCOON RIVER. IT WENT FROM JUST OVER 14MG/L YESTERDAY TO A RESOUNDING 8.1MG/L TODAY. THAT IS AMAZING. THAT’S BELOW THE EPA STANDARD OF TEN. IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO SAY THAT, BUT CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS IS STILL TREATING THAT WATER, CIWW SAYS. THESE DROPS ARE TEMPORARY, THOUGH, AND ARE DUE TO THE RECENT RAINFALL. HOWEVER, THE NUMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO SPIKE AS RUNOFF FROM FIELDS RUNS DOWNSTREAM. BUT TODAY WE ARE SEEING IMPROVEMENT. vlog’S PEPPER PURPURA IS LIVE ALONG THE RACCOON RIVER NOW. PEPPER CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS SAYS THIS RIVER IS OFFERING THE COMMUNITY SOME RELIEF. YES, STACY. SO THIS IS A RACCOON RIVER. AND LIKE BEN JUST SAID, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT DRINKING WATER BAN WENT IN PLACE THAT ONE OF OUR DRINKING WATER SOURCES HAS A NUMBER OF NITRATE, NITRATE LEVELS IN THE WATER THAT IS BELOW THE EPA STANDARD. SO LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A RACCOON RIVER. IT’S SITTING JUST OVER 8MG/L. THAT’S ABOUT WHAT YOU GET AFTER THE FILTRATION PROCESS. BUT NONE OF THIS HAS GONE THROUGH THAT AND IT’S ALREADY AT THAT LEVEL. IT IS BRINGING SOME RELIEF TO THE COMMUNITY TONIGHT. BUT THE EFFORT TO REMOVE THE NITRATE LEVEL OR DROP THE NITRATE LEVEL IN OUR WATER IS STILL IN FULL FORCE. FOR 66 DAYS AND COUNTING. THESE TANKERS HAVE BEEN RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY AND FOR TWO WEEKS. CENTRAL IOWANS HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM WATERING THEIR LAWNS. NITRATE CONCENTRATION IS STILL ELEVATED, BUT ARE IMPROVING. WE ALL SAW A 30% REDUCTION ON OUR AVAILABLE CAPACITY AT THAT TIME. SINCE MAY 30TH, CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS HAS BEEN WORKING TO CURB WATER DEMAND. EACH DAY, THESE TANKERS CAN TURN ABOUT 10 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER. EPA COMPLIANT, ENSURING IT’S SAFE FOR SOME OF CENTRAL IOWA’S MOST VULNERABLE. BUT THAT WASN’T ENOUGH TO MEET DEMAND FOR ALL 600,000 PEOPLE. CIW SERVES JUNE 12TH. THE DEMAND ON OUR SYSTEM REACHED 108%, WHICH IS MORE WATER THAN WE WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING. NITRATE LEVELS PEAKED AT 9.18MG/L THAT DAY. CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. TAMMY MADSEN SAYS IF THE AGENCY DIDN’T FULLY BAN WATERING WOULD HAVE VIOLATED THE NITRATE STANDARD. BUT THE BAN STOPPED THAT FROM HAPPENING. THE AGENCY SAYS ITS WATER NEVER EXCEEDED THE EPA STANDARD. WE’VE HAD RUMORS THAT OUR WATER IS UNSAFE TO DRINK. THAT IS SIMPLY NOT BEEN TRUE. BUT AFTER 66 DAYS RUNNING, THESE MACHINES NONSTOP, THEY’RE WORRIED THAT FACILITY WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO TREAT THE ABSOLUTE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL OF NITRATE AND THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE DEMAND. NOW THE THE LAWN WATERING BAN IS STILL IN PLACE TONIGHT AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE GOING FORWARD. THE RAIN THAT WE’RE HAVING, IT COULD HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF NITRATES IN THE WATER, BUT IT COULD ALSO INCREASE THE NUMBER. WE’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A DEFINITE ANSWER. CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS SAYS UNTIL A FEW DAYS FROM NOW, AFTER THEY’VE GONE SEVERAL DAYS OF TESTING TO SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT US IN DES MOINES.
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Source water nitrate levels still elevated, but are improving, Central Iowa Water Works says
Central Iowa Water Works announced that the Raccoon River, a drinking water source for Des Moines, is now below the EPA standard for nitrates, marking the first day since the watering ban was implemented that the water is safe without extra filtration.For 66 days, tankers have been operating at full capacity to ensure water safety, and for two weeks, central Iowans have been prohibited from watering their lawns. "Nitrate concentrations are still elevated," said Tami Madsen, executive director of Central Iowa Water Works, but they are improving. Since May 30, the agency has been working to curb water demand, with tankers processing about 10 million gallons of EPA-compliant water each day to ensure safety for central Iowa's most vulnerable residents.On June 12, the demand on the system reached 108%, exceeding the agency's production capacity, with nitrate levels peaking at 9.18 milligrams per liter. Madsen explained that if the agency hadn't fully banned watering, "we would have violated the nitrate standards at 10mg/L." However, the ban prevented this violation, and the agency confirmed that its water never exceeded the EPA standard. "We've had rumors that our water is unsafe to drink. That is simply not true," Madsen said.Because the machines have been running nonstop for 66 days, there are concerns. "That facility was never designed to treat the absolute highest possible level of nitrate and the highest possible demand," said Ted Corrigan, CEO of Des Moines Water Works.The watering ban remains in place, and Central Iowa Water Works is monitoring rainfall this week, which could either spike nitrate levels or help further dilute them. The agency will wait for readings to determine the next steps.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 concernsvlog 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 water
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Central Iowa Water Works announced that the Raccoon River, a drinking water source for Des Moines, is now below the EPA standard for nitrates, marking the first day since the watering ban was implemented that the water is safe without extra filtration.
For 66 days, tankers have been operating at full capacity to ensure water safety, and for two weeks, central Iowans have been prohibited from watering their lawns.
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"Nitrate concentrations are still elevated," said Tami Madsen, executive director of Central Iowa Water Works, but they are improving.
Since May 30, the agency has been working to curb water demand, with tankers processing about 10 million gallons of EPA-compliant water each day to ensure safety for central Iowa's most vulnerable residents.
On June 12, the demand on the system reached 108%, exceeding the agency's production capacity, with nitrate levels peaking at 9.18 milligrams per liter. Madsen explained that if the agency hadn't fully banned watering, "we would have violated the nitrate standards at 10mg/L." However, the ban prevented this violation, and the agency confirmed that its water never exceeded the EPA standard.
"We've had rumors that our water is unsafe to drink. That is simply not true," Madsen said.
Because the machines have been running nonstop for 66 days, there are concerns.
"That facility was never designed to treat the absolute highest possible level of nitrate and the highest possible demand," said Ted Corrigan, CEO of Des Moines Water Works.
The watering ban remains in place, and Central Iowa Water Works is monitoring rainfall this week, which could either spike nitrate levels or help further dilute them. The agency will wait for readings to determine the next steps.
Recent coverage of central Iowa water issues
- Central Iowa officials ban lawn watering to avoid potential 'water crisis'
- What are nitrates in drinking water and why Iowa officials are watching closely
- LIST: Which Iowans are included in the ban on lawn watering?
- Des Moines shuts down spraygrounds as central Iowa cities work to conserve water
- Clive residents respond to lawn watering ban amid high nitrate levels
- Central Iowa landscaping businesses adapt to lawn watering ban
- Lawn 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 CIWW
- Central Iowa water officials squash rumors that drinking water is unsafe
- Central Iowa water quality experts say at-home nitrate test kits are unreliable
- More 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 more
- Inside Central Iowa Water Works' testing laboratory
- Study of births in Iowa finds potential prenatal risk linked to nitrates in drinking water