KCCI Investigates: Water demand booms ahead of water use alert

On May 1, central Iowans used 45.1 million gallons of water. That rose to 69.5 million gallons on Tuesday.”We’re seeing demand higher than we did at this time last year,” said Kyle Danley, the chief operating officer for Des Moines Water Works.He shared numbers at the Central Iowa Water Works board meeting Wednesday afternoon. DMWW is one of 12 members of the regional water authority.KCCI Investigates requested water use data for May. (The data are for three plants.) Numbers especially increased with hotter and drier weather.May 21: 51.7 million gallonsMay 22: 54.4 million gallonsMay 23: 52.9 million gallons May 24: 55.9 million gallonsMay 25: 61.2 million gallonsMay 26: 69.5 million gallonsThese numbers factored into the decision by CIWW to announce a stage 2 water use alert, asking that customers cut in half their outdoor usage. Water demand grows especially during this time of the year as more homeowners and businesses water lawns. That can make up 30 to 40 percent of water usage.”We’re requesting this because it’s getting really hot outside. People are irrigating more. And our water system is simply taxed with the high nitrate concentration and the increase in water use,” said Tami Madsen, CIWW’s executive director.Nitrate levels also contributed to the decision. The main sources for drinking water treated by CIWW continue to show high levels of the pollutant.The nitrate removal facility operates when levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers are high. The facility has run most of this year. “We can all work together to voluntarily reduce our water use by 50 percent and still have nice green lawns and enjoy our summer,” Madsen said.