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Axios
6 days ago
- General
- Axios
Calls grow for unity to solve Iowa's nitrate crisis
Persistent wet weather has increased nitrate leaching from farm fields into rivers and is the main cause of the metro's prolonged water crisis this summer, Matt Helmers, director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, tells Axios. Why it matters: The consequences are apparent this year, but the problem has been getting worse for decades. Understanding it can help unify the state to achieve lower nitrate levels more quickly, urban, farm and public utility advocates tell Axios. Catch up quick: Nitrate levels at key water intake points surpassed the federal drinking water limit of 10 mg/L for about 40 more days this year compared with 2024 — a near-record period, according to data from Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW). The DSM metro is also the fastest growing in the Midwest, creating a situation in which water utilities are struggling to remove enough nitrates to meet demand. Flashback: In 2015, DSM Water Works — a member of Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) — sued three northwest Iowa counties and multiple drainage districts in federal court, alleging they violated the Clean Water Act by not better controlling nitrates. The legal battle caused political division before a judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2017, concluding that the widespread problems are for the Iowa Legislature to address. State of play: Metro water utilities have been working on nitrate removal expansions for years, with new projects expected to come online in 2026, CIWW executive director Tami Madsen tells Axios. Farmers are deploying dozens of types of projects like precision nitrogen management through the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative, an on-farm trail program at Iowa State University. The use of cover crops in Iowa has grown from 50,000 acres in 2010 to over 4 million acres this year. Friction point: The work needs to be greatly expanded, environmental advocates such as Polk County Conservation director Rich Leopold tell Axios. The intrigue: Nearly two-thirds of Iowans voted in 2010 to amend the constitution and establish the Natural Resources and Outdoors Recreation Trust Fund — a permanent funding source for clean water, outdoor recreation, and habitat projects. Yes, but: There's still no money because the Legislature has not increased the state sales tax by three-eighths of a cent to fund it. Gov. Kim Reynolds identified funding the Trust Fund as a top priority in early 2020, which would generate an estimated $220 million annually for outdoor improvements. The effort stalled just a few weeks later amid the economic uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, and questions about its future have largely been postponed to future Condition of the State addresses. Inside the room: Polk County Supervisors Chairperson Matt McCoy, a Democrat and former state senator, called on the Legislature to act on the trust fund during a July 1 meeting when the county publicly released its 200-plus-page river report.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Central Iowa Water Works says splash freely on 4th of July— but please don't water lawns
Central Iowa Water Works is inviting metro residents to spend what's forecast to be a hot Fourth of July weekend to splash and play, even as it maintains an unprecedented lawn‐watering ban to preserve its capacity to treat source water with soaring nitrate levels. 'We want you to go play with your kids in your water, do slip‐and‐slides, your kiddie pools, your hoses,' Executive Director Tami Madsen told reporters at a briefing Tuesday, July 1, reiterating that 'all water produced by Central Iowa Water Works continues to meet all safe drinking water standards.' She called on residents to balance fun with restraint, thanking them for their 'cooperation in helping us reduce demand to ensure our treatment system is effective.' The appeal comes as Central Iowa Water Works largest member, Des Moines Water Works, has been force to run the nitrate removal system at its Fleur Drive treatment plant for more than 50 days, straining its ability to keep treated water below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's maximum nitrate level of 10 milligrams per liter. Nitrate is a form of nitrogen that can be released into water from manure and chemical fertilizers used on upstream farm fields. High levels of nitrates have been linked to asphyxia in infants, called blue baby syndrome, and even low nitrate levels have been tied to some cancers. Summer lawn watering can increase demand by 40%. Central Iowa Water Works imposed the watering ban June 12 after briefly seeking a voluntary halt to watering. At the time, the Raccoon River's nitrate levels were near record levels, rendering it too polluted to use. The city of Des Moines responded to the ban by closing its 17 splash pads but reopened them with limited hours after CIWW calculated they use less than 2% of the system's capacity. Splash pools and the city's swimming pools also are open, and the Des Moines Fire Department still plans to offer a giant slip-and-slide at Nahas Aquatic Center from 1 to 3 p.m. July 4. On Tuesday, CIWW reported that demand remains about 30% below pre‐ban levels, enabling it to keep treated water safely within regulatory limits even though nitrate levels in the Raccoon River are rising, reaching 15.93 milligrams per liter after a drop resulting from the dilution effect of heavy rain last week. Nitrates in the Des Moines River registered 12.28. Treated water from Des Moines Water Works' Fleur Drive plant measured 7.51 milligrams per liter and its McMullen plant's finished water contained 7.25. Madsen's invitation to enjoy the water came as Polk County officially released a watershed assessment, previously obtained and reviewed by The Des Moines Register, that found the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers 'often contain some of the highest nitrate levels in the U.S. and routinely exceed the health-based drinking water standard, threatening human health and increasing the cost and complexity of water treatment.' The summary called for watershed-scale conservation measures to stem nitrate pollution at its source. Asked at Tuesday's briefing for comment on the report, Madsen said, 'We are grateful that there are so many scientists involved in the discussion. But right now, we're really focused on continuing to provide safe drinking water to all of our 600,000 water users. So if we continue to adhere to the lawn-watering ban, which is going to be very important as we enter the hot dry weekend, we can continue to produce that safe drinking water for our customers.' When asked whether an exit strategy from the ban is in place, Madsen said 'we need to see a sustained reduction in downward trend in our source water nitrates before we can exit any kind of ban. Warm, dry weather will help us determine whether there are any trends.' She added that the CIWW board and technical committee are discussing a 'phased approach to lift restrictions.' Madsen did not quantify how long the sustained decline must last or how far nitrate levels must fall, saying only that CIWW needs to see a 'sustained, consistent downward trend in those nitrate levels in the river' below 10 milligrams per liter. She likewise did not elaborate on what a rollback would look like, saying the agency is 'still working through the details.' Nick El Hajj is a reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at nelhajj@ This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Central Iowa Water Works: Play in water July 4 but don't water lawns
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Des Moines closing splash pads, some pools to reduce water consumption
DES MOINES, Iowa — The City of Des Moines announced Friday afternoon that it will be temporarily closing its splash pads and some pools to reduce water consumption. The announcement comes after Central Iowa Water Works implemented a first-ever ban on lawn watering Thursday to reduce the strain on water treatment facilities to remove near-record levels of nitrates in the Des Moines and Racoon rivers. Jefferson celebrates Great American Main Street Award Des Moines city officials said all spraygrounds, splash pools, and wading pools will be shut off beginning Friday. However, four of the city's pools and aquatic centers will remain open. Those locations include the Ashworth Swimming Pool, the Nahas Family Aquatic Center, the Northwest Family Aquatic Center, and the Teachout Family Aquatic Center. Birdland pool remains closed as the city works to install a new filter. According to CIWW, the lawn watering ban will be in effect for the foreseeable future until nitrate levels in the rivers decrease. As of Thursday, the nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers were 17.3 mg/L and 15.4 mg/L, respectively. The last time nitrate levels in the rivers were that high was in 2013, when they reached over 14 mg/L in the Des Moines and 24 mg/L in the Raccoon. Metro News: Former Ankeny teacher sentenced to prison for sexually exploiting student Iowa-based ice cream sandwich now available at Costco locations across Midwest CIWW enacts ban on lawn watering as nitrate levels climb Brad Edwards joining WHO 13 as a contributor on July 1st Greg Edwards on making Des Moines a destination Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa House Republicans, candidates describe Gov. Reynolds pipeline veto as 'betrayal'
DES MOINES, Iowa — It's been just over 24 hours since Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced she was vetoing a bill that would add restrictions around building pipelines in the state; but the gloves are already off for some elected lawmakers in the party. 'It's a betrayal of the Republican party platform, it's a betrayal of those landowners who fought for four years and she didn't even speak with them until recently,' said State Representative Steve Holt (R) District 12 from Denison, when discussing if Reynolds had talked with his constituents. 'So it was very, very unfortunate. Puts us in a very bad position and it, I think, it will forever tarnish her legacy.' House Republicans won't mince words with how they feel with the news about the veto. Rep. Holt said that he talked with Governor Reynolds after the session ended, urging her to sign the legislation, promising a bill to tighten language she thought was a concern. CIWW enacts ban on lawn watering as nitrate levels climb The author of the bill shared his colleague's concerns about the reason why the governor did not sign the legislation. 'To let Iowans down the way she has, it just, it kind of breaks your heart to see that,' said State Representative Charley Thomson (R) District 58 from Charles City when responding to Reynolds' concerns about insurance and voluntary easements. 'It's not credible for her to say that. And we all kind of get it, wink, wink, nod, nod, it's not about insurance, it's about sum.' Thomson outlined to WHO 13 News why he believes there needs to be insurance liabilities on a pipeline company, and protections for landowners. He compared it to an Iowan not being able to drive legally on the road without auto insurance. The pair do not have high hopes for a special session to be called, but they won't completely rule it out. Two gubernatorial candidates both say that this decision from Governor Reynolds was something they were disappointed in, but not surprised. 'I was not surprised by this. I had predicted that this would happen. And quite honestly, I'm deeply disappointed. I think this is a, it's a slap in the face at our property owners, who their only gripe, if you will, is that they just don't want to sell their property to someone for that other person's financial gain,' said State Representative Eddie Andrews, (R) District 43, candidate for governor. 'I was not surprised. Um, the timing is always a little bit of a surprise because you never know when it's going to happen. But I had a conversation with Governor Reynolds back in the early part of '23 when I first got to the statehouse. And, you know, some of the language in her statement was pretty similar to what, what her response was back then,' said Brad Sherman, a former state representative and candidate for governor. Both Sherman and Andrews told WHO 13 News that if they are elected they will sign a bill that bans the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines outright. Iowa News: Iowa House Republicans, candidates describe Gov. Reynolds pipeline veto as 'betrayal' WHO 13 Farm Report: Thursday, June 12th Deal's Orchard is a favorite Jefferson destination Des Moines man identified as body found in Newton home during search warrant execution Art scene thriving in Jefferson with more murals planned for downtown Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa-based ice cream sandwich now available at Costco locations across Midwest
DES MOINES, Iowa — A favorite ice cream sandwich based in Iowa is now available at Costco locations across the Midwest. Art scene thriving in Jefferson with more murals planned for downtown Thelma's, which specializes in ice cream sandwiches and got its start at the Des Moines Farmers Market, is now offering a 10-pack of Snickerdoodle ice cream sandwiches at Costco. The ice cream sandwiches will be available at over 100 locations in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kentucky throughout the summer. 'It's an incredible honor to bring our most nostalgic flavor to Costco shoppers,' Nola Morris, the CMO of Thelma's, said. 'This moment reflects how far we've come — from a pushcart at the farmers market to freezers in one of the country's most trusted retailers.' To find where Thelma's ice cream sandwiches are sold near you, click here. Metro News: Iowa-based ice cream sandwich now available at Costco locations across Midwest CIWW enacts ban on lawn watering as nitrate levels climb Brad Edwards joining WHO 13 as a contributor on July 1st Greg Edwards on making Des Moines a destination CIWW increases voluntary reduction to 50%, facilities at full capacity Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
