Water Quality

IPR’s Grant Gerlock starts off today’s show discussing how the federal infrastructure bill will impact Iowa, specifically its water systems. Vanessa Miller of the Gazette talks about a University of Iowa lawsuit involving faith-based student organizations. Randy Meier of the Clinton County Sheriff’s office shares the warning signs you may be getting scammed and Iowa Falls farmer John Gilbert talks sustainability practices.

The process of cleaning up fuel and coal spilled into the Mississippi River following a train derailment is well underway, according to state officials. The incident happened when a BNSF train hit a river barge in southeast Iowa on Saturday.

Kate Payne, Janis Elliott, Steve Veysey and the hosts of the new podcast "We All Want Clean H20," join Ben Kieffer to talk about water issues in the state of Iowa and the path forward for improving water quality.

There are concerning levels of contamination in public water systems across Iowa, according to an environmental group that sets its own health standards. More than 700 hundred utilities in Iowa had levels of certain contaminants above health guidelines set by the Environmental Working Group, which are not legally enforceable.

Even as the Iowa Department of the Natural Resources begins testing for “forever chemicals” in more than 50 public water systems across the state, the agency currently has no plans to test private wells. An estimated 10 percent of Iowans get their water from private wells, which are largely unregulated.

Researchers have detected “forever chemicals” in a third of the Iowa streams they tested. The scientists say it’s significant that they found the toxic chemicals known as PFAS in remote and rural areas, away from sites known to have used them.

Environmentalists, outdoor recreation enthusiasts and neighbors of a large feedlot in Clayton County have raised concerns in recent years about such a big CAFO in the driftless region.

The Iowa tornado outbreak didn't result in any fatalities or serious injuries. On this edition of River to River, a harrowing story from one Lake City resident who was in the twister's path.

Ben Kieffer talks to IPR's Kate Payne about the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and concerning news on Iowa's water quality and the Associated Press's Ryan Foley on the fatal Adventureland accident.

Iowans were advised against swimming at seven public beaches over the Fourth of July holiday weekend due to elevated E. coli levels and toxic algae blooms. Lake Darling State Park in Washington County is the only beach in the state so far this summer to have both advisories in place.