Water Works restarts nitrate-removal facility
Des Moines Water Works restarted its nitrate-removal system Friday, reporting that it could no longer meet federal drinking water standards without using it.
The utility had been using water from the Des Moines River and from shallow groundwater but still was serving up tap water with 8.3 milligrams per liter nitrate. That is close to the federal health limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
The nitrate level in the North Raccoon River this morning was 17 milligrams per liter at Sac City; the reading in the Des Moines River at Second Avenue was 11.5 milligrams per liter.
The nitrate-removal system had run a record 148 days in 2015 year before the restart. Water Works continued to primarily blame farm runoff for the pollution. The utility has sued three northwest Iowa counties in a closely watched federal case that contends their drainage districts should be subject to permit restrictions under the U.S. Clean Water Act due to high nitrate levels in the Raccoon River.
In the past year, nitrate levels exceeded the drinking standard for 272 days on the Raccoon River and 182 days on the Des Moines River.
Stowe told the Business Record earlier this month that this action was coming.
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FROM THE RECORD ARCHIVES:
Searching for solutions
Nov. 20, 2015 – Two businessmen lead the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s task force on water quality issues. Read about their vision for helping clean Iowa lakes and streams. Read more
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