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Research, policy and personal action. These are the steps Iowa and Iowans can take to answer questions about water quality as a risk factor for Iowa’s high rate of new cancer cases.“We do get a lot of questions about water quality and other environmental exposures, and it is incredibly important to look at that area,” said Kelly Wells Sittig, executive director of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, a group of 650 researchers, medical professionals and advocates.One step: ResearchThere’s a long way to go in looking at the intersection of public health and water quality, experts say. “I know we get people saying, ‘Why aren’t you doing research on it?’ We are,” said David Cwiertny, professor of environmental engineering and chemistry at the University of Iowa. He also is the director of the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination. “It’s just to have the research mean anything, we can’t just quickly slap it together.”There are more than 1,800 water systems for drinking water in Iowa.Data show 97 percent meet Environmental Protection Agency standards for being safe.Most Iowans rely on groundwater that is pumped out and used for public systems and private wells.Some Iowans get their water from surface sources, like rivers or lakes.“These get challenged by the way in which we use our land and type of things that we put into our lakes and rivers and streams,” Cwiertny said. Those challenges include fertilizer, pesticides, manure, wastewater and other contaminants.Experts want to see more research into what that means for Iowans – which can be expensive.“It seems pretty logical that what we need is enhanced investment, not decreased investment,” said Wells Sittig.Another step: Policy makingAfter research, public health policy is another step Iowa could take to address questions about drinking water.Wells Sittig points to other laws as successes: such as limiting tobacco use or the law that requires public schools to test for radon by 2027.“When a policy makes it easier for us to make the healthy choice, more people are going to make the healthy choice,” said Wells Sittig, “and that’s going to lead to overall better outcomes for populations.”Another recent example: State Sen. Art Staed, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, introduced the Clean Water Act in 2024. It gained little traction at the Statehouse.“We have drinking water problems from our wells,” he said, “all kinds of issues that need to be addressed more effectively.”He wonders if Iowa’s water quality issues could make Iowans sick.“I think it’s very suspicious that it might be,” he said.Iowans are also expressing this concern and asking questions.But experts say it’s not that simple.“It’s never going to be just one thing that’s leading Iowa to stand out the way it currently is with our cancer incidence. It’s likely a number of things,” Cwiertny said.Wells Sittig said all factors need consideration.“We need to be doing all of it. It really is not a one or the other,” she said.What you can do: ActBesides research and policy, there are steps Iowans can take to lower their cancer risks. Medical professionals advise eating well, exercising, not using tobacco or vaping products, and not frequenting tanning beds.There are specific ways to take on water questions: Iowans with private wells – about 7 percent of the population – can test their wells. Experts say that should be done yearly. Look up information about public water systems. You can look them up at trustmytap.org. Avoid water in plastic bottles. Speak up.“One thing Iowans can do in addition to thinking about their own risks is constantly talk to their policymakers at all levels,” said Wells Sittig. There are ways to improve water quality at home. One option is a reverse osmosis filter system. They can cost several hundred dollars. “At the end of the day, tap water is still about as reliable and low risk as it comes because we regulate it and regulations work,” said Cwiertny.This is the second part in a two-part series on water quality and cancer risks. Part 1 can be found here.» Subscribe to ����vlog's YouTube page» Download the free ����vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play