Central Iowa Water Works asks residents to cut outdoor water use by 50%

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) — Central Iowa Water Works announced Wednesday it is asking residents to reduce lawn watering use by 50 percent.

The company has issued a Stage II Water Alert, effective immediately. The alert is driven by high concentrations of nitrates in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, central Iowa’s two main surface water sources.

The company is asking residents to prioritize essential outdoor use only and conserve water both indoors and outdoors.

Central Iowa Water Works uses a four-stage water alert system:

• Stage zero: No restrictions; community education only.
• Stage one: 25 percent voluntary reduction in lawn watering.
• Stage two: 50 percent voluntary reduction.
• Stage three: Full outdoor watering ban.

Nitrates are a common pollutant in Iowa’s rivers and streams, primarily from fertilizer and manure runoff from farms. The ongoing high nitrate levels have strained the region’s water treatment capacity.

Central Iowa Water Works had to run its nitrate removal facility in winter, a rare occurrence, due to high nitrate levels. In spring and summer 2025, the facility ran partially or fully for 112 days.

The company also issued a lawn watering ban June 12, 2025, citing high nitrate levels worsened by dry conditions.