CIWW says treatment facilities working near capacity, requests voluntary use reduction
DES MOINES, Iowa — Central Iowa Water Works announced on Friday that treatment facilities are working near capacity and that it's requesting a voluntary reduction in lawn watering.
According to CIWW, the current challenges facing treatment facilities are due to the water supply conditions from nitrate concentrations in both the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. Despite the issue, all finished water meets state and federal regulations for drinking and other uses, CIWW said.
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Now, as we head into the summer months CIWW is asking residents to reduce how much they water their lawns, as CIWW says lawn watering is the greatest use of water in warm weather.
'If everyone cut their lawn watering by 25 percent it would help our water treatment plants meet the essential water needs of our community,' Tami Madsen, executive director of CIWW, said in a statement. 'By reducing watering and waiting for expected rain Tuesday, we can keep lawns looking nice while also being good stewards of our water supply.'
CIWW provided the following tips for reducing lawn watering:
If you normally run your sprinklers for an hour, water for 45 minutes.
If you water for three days, only water one or two.
Consider watering only your front lawn.
Water in the early morning or late evening.
Don't water on Monday.
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