Des Moines Water Works

Nitrate levels remain elevated in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, two of the drinking water sources for Central Iowa Water Works' 600,000 customers. The regional utility recently shared how it tests water and removes nitrates at one of its plants to meet federal drinking water standards.

Nitrate levels are still at dangerous levels in Des Moines’ rivers. To keep the area’s sources for drinking water from exceeding EPA standards, Central Iowa Water Works is continuing its ban on lawn watering, possibly for weeks.

There is not a shortage from water sources in the area, but treatment facilities are struggling to keep up with high levels of nitrate in the rivers that supply the system.

The 80/35 music festival, held for years in downtown Des Moines, had a new location and different feel in 2024, but still had plenty to offer. And the music — and the people — were (still) amazing.

Des Moines’ People’s Pride put on its second-ever event at Water Works Park on June 15.

There’s not a shortage of water, but as demand increases into the summer, it will be harder to provide tap water below the legal limit for nitrate.

New rules proposed by the EPA would require most cities in the country to replace lead pipes within ten years. One state official says that might be a difficult goal to achieve even with federal funding.

About half of Iowa's waterways — its thousands of streams, lakes, reservoirs and wetlands — are considered impaired according to an Iowa DNR report. We’ll discuss the findings in this report and potential solutions to improve water quality in the state with three experts from the University of Iowa.

Host Charity Nebbe talks about the benefits of rain gardens with urban conservationist Jennifer Welch

West Des Moines is the latest city water system to join agree to negotiations that could create a regional drinking water utility in central Iowa.