DES MOINES, Iowa -- Des Moines' primary source of drinking water --the Raccoon River--is running about 10 percent of normal right now.
"The river is lower than it would typically be. Median river flow this time of year is about 4,000 CFS (cubic feet per second). Right now the river's running at 400 CFS" says Des Moines Water Works Chief Executive Officer Ted Corrigan.
He says weeks of dry weather are taking their toll on river levels.
"We have plenty of water for drinking water in the city of Des Moines. The challenge becomes if the drought deepens and demand would increase for outdoor water--for irrigation--lawn watering, specifically" Corrigan says.
He also says the city's back-up source for drinking water may not be a good long-term solution.
"The challenge last couple of summers has been that the Des Moines River has had microcystin (toxic blue-green algae) concentrations in the late summer and early fall that are above the drinking water health advisory level. We've had to avoid using the Des Moines River" Corrigan says.
Corrigan says the Des Moines Water Works is asking it's customers to do what they can to conserve water, especially as the dry weather continues.