Pattison company defends its request to dramatically increase its water usage

GARNAVILLO, Iowa (KCRG) — Pattison Company in Clayton County is asking to nearly quadruple its water usage to more than 3.7 billion gallons of water.

If the DNR approves Pattison’s permit to increase its water use, it would become one of the top water guzzlers in the state.

People in the area worry increased usage could dry up their wells, but Pattison says water levels outside the mining area won’t change.

The Pattison company uses around a billion gallons of water a year in its quarry.

Company manager Kyle Pattison says the company’s sitting on top of water it can’t pump because of its current limits. Pattison says increasing water usage isn’t about expanding the mining operation, but saving costs.

“It would increase our costs somewhat, which has an impact on the amount of people we can employ and the wages that we can pay them,” Pattison said.

Some neighbors in the area say they’re worried increased water usage here could hurt their private wells. On the other hand, Pattison says any extra water usage wouldn’t have any impact outside of the mining area.

Last month people in the area met with the DNR to discuss some of their concerns one common concern being a long-term impact on water levels in the area if Pattison’s permit is approved.

Pattison said increased water usage would leave water in the same levels as before.

“All the water runs from the west to the Mississippi river and the east to the Mississippi river so we’re just changing its path for a short bit and then it ends up in the same spot,” Pattison said

Concerns surrounding the company’s water usage don’t just come from area residents. The city of Garnavillo wrote a letter to the DNR, sharing concerns about draining water from the area and possible water contamination.

“So I mean there’s groundwater all around in this area that goes into the drinking water. The only problem I’m aware of is just nitrates from the farmers,” Pattison said.

Pattison says the company wouldn’t necessarily use the full 3.7 billion gallons the permit would allow, but it aims to use much more than it’s currently permitted.

Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.