Mandatory watering ban takes effect across central Iowa
I’LL BE BREAKING THAT DOWN. MORE COMING UP. ALL RIGHT, JASON, THANKS SO MUCH. A MANDATORY LAWN WATERING BAN IS NOW IN EFFECT ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL IOWA. AS SUMMER DEMAND CONTINUES TO CLIMB, SOME DRINKING WATER SOURCES ARE SETTING RECORDS FOR JUST HOW LONG NITRATES HAVE TESTED ABOVE THE EPA’S STANDARD KCCI PURPURA, EXPLAINS THE BAN. TODAY, THE CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS BOARD OF TRUSTEES IMPLEMENTED A STAGE THREE LAWN WATERING BAN ACROSS OUR SERVICE AREA THAT TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY FOR HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. IN THESE 12 CENTRAL IOWA COMMUNITIES. ALL THREE SOURCES THE AREA’S MAIN WATER AGENCY RELIES ON CONTAIN MORE NITRATES THAN IS ALLOWED BY THE EPA AND THE SYSTEMS TO REMOVE ENOUGH OF IT TO MAKE IT SAFE ARE AT CAPACITY. THE WATER COMING OUT OF YOUR TAP MEETS ALL STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORY STANDARDS. YOU CAN COOK WITH IT, YOU CAN DRINK IT, YOU CAN BATHE WITH IT. BUT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS IS CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING ITS NITRATE REMOVAL FACILITY AT FULL CAPACITY. WE ARE OPERATING THAT FACILITY AT FULL THROTTLE. EVEN THEN, CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS SAYS THERE’S MORE DEMAND FOR WATER THAN WATER IT CAN TREAT. OUR CUSTOMER DEMAND WAS 91% OF THE CAPACITY THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO US. THAT WAS ON SATURDAY. PLANTS MAKE UP ROUGHLY 40% OF THE WATER USED IN SUMMER. THE BAN ALLOWS FLOWERS AND GARDENS TO BE WATERED WITH HAND-HELD HOSES AND WATERING CANS. THERE ARE ALSO EXCEPTIONS FOR NEW SOD OR NEWLY SEEDED LAWNS. THE NEXT STAGE WOULD BE WATER RATIONING. THAT WOULD IMPLEMENT STRICTER MEASURES. CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS SAYS THE SYSTEM IS NOT CLOSE TO NEEDING THAT, BUT COMPLYING NOW IS CRITICAL. WITHOUT THIS STEP, CUSTOMER DEMAND WILL MOST CERTAINLY EXCEED OUR ABILITY TO TREAT THE WATER AND KEEP OUR DRINKIN
Central Iowa Water Works issues mandatory lawn watering ban amid elevated nitrate levels
Central Iowa Water Works has enacted a mandatory lawn watering ban across its service area as regional water treatment facilities continue to contend with elevated nitrate levels in source waters. The CIWW Board of Trustees on Monday initiated Stage III of its Water Use Plan, requiring residential, commercial and government customers to halt most outdoor watering in an effort to preserve drinking water supplies for more than 600,000 residents. Officials emphasized that drinking water remains safe and continues to meet all state and federal standards. However, the regional water system is operating at the limits of its treatment capacity as facilities work to remove high nitrate concentrations from rivers and other water sources.“Conditions have reached a point where mandatory conservation is necessary to protect reliable water service for more than 600,000 people across central Iowa,” CIWW Executive Director Tami Madsen said in a statement. “We are using every available tool in our system to maintain safe drinking water. Now we need every customer’s help in reducing demand to maintain safe drinking water standards.”To manage the elevated nitrate levels, the utility is relying on its Nitrate Removal Facility, the Maffitt Reservoir and Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells, officials said.Under the restrictions, lawn watering is prohibited except for newly installed sod or seed planted during the current growing season, and even then only the minimum amount necessary for establishment is allowed.Sports fields and golf courses may continue limited irrigation only to maintain safety and preserve turf. Decorative water features that do not recirculate water must be turned off, and customers are being directed to discontinue all nonessential outdoor water use.FULL NEWS CONFERENCE: Central Iowa Water Works announces Stage 3 lawn watering ban amid high nitrate levelsCIWW is also urging residents to conserve water indoors by running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, repairing leaks, turning off water while brushing teeth or shaving, and postponing nonessential activities that require large amounts of water.The restrictions affect customers in Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, Norwalk, Polk City, Waukee, and customers served by Des Moines Water Works, Urbandale Water Utility, West Des Moines Water Works, Warren Water and portions of the Xenia Water District.The utility did not indicate how long the mandatory restrictions will remain in effect, saying conditions will continue to be monitored as treatment facilities manage nitrate levels and water demand across the region.This is the second summer in a row where CIWW has implemented a mandatory lawn watering ban. In 2025, the ban was issued on June 6 and lasted through Aug. 15.Des Moines reduces hours for spraygroundsTo support the CIWW water use plan request, the city of Des Moines is reducing its sprayground hours to 50% of normal operations.Beginning Tuesday, June 9, the temporary hours for the spraygrounds will be:9 a.m. — 3 p.m. : Bates, Chesterfield, Good, Greenwood, Jordan, MacRae, McHenry, Sargent, Sayers, Sheridan, and Woodlawn parks.2 p.m. — 8 p.m.: Burke, Columbus, Drake, E.K. Davis, Fairmont, Grandview, Gray’s Lake, Stone, Tower, and Western Gateway parks.Q: Why are nitrate levels a concern?A: High nitrate levels can cause “blue baby syndrome.” That’s one of the reasons the EPA set the 10 mg/liter standard in the 1990s. A growing body of research suggests that exposure to nitrate levels as low as 5mg/L can lead to long term health effects.Q: What are the current nitrate levels?A: Nitrate levels in CIWW water sources: Raccoon River: 15.6 mg/l on June 8, 15.15 mg/l on June 7, 13.1 mg/l on June 6, 13.38 mg/l on June 5 Des Moines River: 11.88 mg/l on June 8, 12.23 mg/l on June 7, 11.89 mg/l on June 6, 10.32 mg/l on June 5 Treated water on June 4: 8.81 mg/l from Fleur Drive plant; 8.72 mg/l from McMullen plantQ: Where do the nitrates come from?A: The main sources of nitrates in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers are from agricultural sources, such as fertilizer runoff.Q: What happens to leftover nitrate after it’s removed from drinking water?The Des Moines water reclamation facility uses advanced aeration systems to process wastewater from 18 cities. Bacteria help break down the nitrate into nitrogen and oxygen, which creates renewable natural gas.The remaining sludge, concentrated with nutrients, is dewatered and turned into a semi-solid fertilizer.Q: Why ban lawn watering?A: Commercial and residential irrigation is the biggest use of water during the summer months, up to 40% of daily usage.Q: Is the water coming out of my faucets safe?A: Yes. The nitrate removal facility is now keeping up with demand. Drinking water continues to meet the EPA standard for nitrate levels, 10 mg per liter or less. Water officials are testing the water at multiple points of the treatment process.
Central Iowa Water Works has enacted a mandatory lawn watering ban across its service area as regional water treatment facilities continue to contend with elevated nitrate levels in source waters.
The CIWW Board of Trustees on Monday initiated Stage III of its Water Use Plan, requiring residential, commercial and government customers to halt most outdoor watering in an effort to preserve drinking water supplies for more than 600,000 residents.
Officials emphasized that drinking water remains safe and continues to meet all state and federal standards. However, the regional water system is operating at the limits of its treatment capacity as facilities work to remove high nitrate concentrations from rivers and other water sources.
“Conditions have reached a point where mandatory conservation is necessary to protect reliable water service for more than 600,000 people across central Iowa,” CIWW Executive Director Tami Madsen said in a statement. “We are using every available tool in our system to maintain safe drinking water. Now we need every customer’s help in reducing demand to maintain safe drinking water standards.”
To manage the elevated nitrate levels, the utility is relying on its Nitrate Removal Facility, the Maffitt Reservoir and Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells, officials said.
Under the restrictions, lawn watering is prohibited except for newly installed sod or seed planted during the current growing season, and even then only the minimum amount necessary for establishment is allowed.
Sports fields and golf courses may continue limited irrigation only to maintain safety and preserve turf. Decorative water features that do not recirculate water must be turned off, and customers are being directed to discontinue all nonessential outdoor water use.
FULL NEWS CONFERENCE: Central Iowa Water Works announces Stage 3 lawn watering ban amid high nitrate levels
CIWW is also urging residents to conserve water indoors by running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, repairing leaks, turning off water while brushing teeth or shaving, and postponing nonessential activities that require large amounts of water.
The restrictions affect customers in Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, Norwalk, Polk City, Waukee, and customers served by Des Moines Water Works, Urbandale Water Utility, West Des Moines Water Works, Warren Water and portions of the Xenia Water District.
The utility did not indicate how long the mandatory restrictions will remain in effect, saying conditions will continue to be monitored as treatment facilities manage nitrate levels and water demand across the region.
This is the second summer in a row where CIWW has implemented a mandatory lawn watering ban. In 2025, the ban was issued on June 6 and lasted through Aug. 15.
Des Moines reduces hours for spraygrounds
To support the CIWW water use plan request, the city of Des Moines is reducing its sprayground hours to 50% of normal operations.
Beginning Tuesday, June 9, the temporary hours for the spraygrounds will be:
- 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. : Bates, Chesterfield, Good, Greenwood, Jordan, MacRae, McHenry, Sargent, Sayers, Sheridan, and Woodlawn parks.
- 2 p.m. — 8 p.m.: Burke, Columbus, Drake, E.K. Davis, Fairmont, Grandview, Gray’s Lake, Stone, Tower, and Western Gateway parks.
Q: Why are nitrate levels a concern?
A: High nitrate levels can cause “blue baby syndrome.” That’s one of the reasons the EPA set the 10 mg/liter standard in the 1990s. A growing body of research suggests that exposure to nitrate levels as low as 5mg/L can lead to long term health effects.
Q: What are the current nitrate levels?
A: Nitrate levels in CIWW water sources:
- Raccoon River: 15.6 mg/l on June 8, 15.15 mg/l on June 7, 13.1 mg/l on June 6, 13.38 mg/l on June 5
- Des Moines River: 11.88 mg/l on June 8, 12.23 mg/l on June 7, 11.89 mg/l on June 6, 10.32 mg/l on June 5
- Treated water on June 4: 8.81 mg/l from Fleur Drive plant; 8.72 mg/l from McMullen plant
Q: Where do the nitrates come from?
A: The main sources of nitrates in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers are from agricultural sources, such as fertilizer runoff.
Q: What happens to leftover nitrate after it’s removed from drinking water?
The Des Moines water reclamation facility uses advanced aeration systems to process wastewater from 18 cities. Bacteria help break down the nitrate into nitrogen and oxygen, which creates renewable natural gas.
The remaining sludge, concentrated with nutrients, is dewatered and turned into a semi-solid fertilizer.
Q: Why ban lawn watering?
A: Commercial and residential irrigation is the biggest use of water during the summer months, up to 40% of daily usage.
Q: Is the water coming out of my faucets safe?
A: Yes. The nitrate removal facility is now keeping up with demand. Drinking water continues to meet the EPA standard for nitrate levels, 10 mg per liter or less. Water officials are testing the water at multiple points of the treatment process.