Answers to frequently asked questions about Iowa water quality, nitrates, testing and more

How Central Iowa Water Works tests for nitrate levels

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Nitrate milligrams per liter has become a phrase central Iowans are all too familiar with this year as Central Iowa Water Works has had a mandatory restriction in place for lawn watering for the last several weeks. The nitrate removal facility that sits in Des Moines is capable of processing 10 million gallons of water per day, and prior to the water restrictions, there were days where demand would reach 70-80 million gallons…

Answers to frequently asked questions about Iowa water quality, nitrates, testing and more

You've got questions about Central Iowa's water since officials have banned commercial and residential lawn watering due to high levels of nitrates in water sources. We've got answers.

Mount Ayr avoids water supply issues

Several recent news sources report a growing number of Iowa residents being asked to conserve water due not only to dry conditions but also to high nitrate levels in water supplies. Cami Koons with the Iowa Capital Dispatch noted the Central Iowa Water Works issued its first ever lawn watering ban on June 12 due to high nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, the water source for more than 600,000 people in the Des Moines region. Ko…