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(Des Moines, IA) -- The Central Iowa lawn watering ban is expected to remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
“The situation is very dynamic. As far as when the lawn watering ban can end, we are certainly monitoring the nitrate situation in the rivers. For now, we need to continue to implement the lawn watering ban,” said Tami Madsen, Executive Director of Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW).
The ban was issued earlier this month. On June 12, when CIWW announced the ban, they also warned that violators could lose water service.
Nitrate levels have continued to fluctuate in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers, which supply the majority of Central Iowa’s water. The Environmental Protection Agency’s safe limit for nitrates is 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L). As of mid-June, nitrate levels had exceeded 15 mg/L in both rivers, with some reports indicating even higher concentrations.
CIWW officials said the ban is necessary to ensure the plant can continue producing enough safe water for essential use.
Many residents have expressed concern about whether the increased nitrate levels have affected water quality. Madsen reassured the public that the water remains safe to drink.
“Unless you hear it directly from Central Iowa Water Works, our water is still safe to consume under safe drinking water standards,” Madsen said.
CIWW noted that the lawn watering ban has helped reduce water consumption, allowing treatment plants to better manage nitrate levels.
Although nitrate levels had been decreasing over the past week, heavy rainfall last Friday caused a spike. However, Madsen said the recent heat wave is not expected to impact nitrate levels.
“Weather conditions aren’t specifically tied to the reduction in the nitrate load. There are a lot of different factors involved,” she explained.
It currently costs $16,000 per day to operate the nitrate removal system.