(Des Moines, IA) -- Des Moines Water Works is asking residents to avoid watering their lawns due to high levels of nitrate in the city's main river sources.
Water Works says nitrate washes from farm fields and through tile lines upstream into our water ways.
They say concentrations are typically higher in a wet spring after a period of dry years, which we are experiencing.
Nitrate concentrations in the Des Moines River and Racoon River are some of the highest they've seen in the last 30 years.
Water Works CEO Ted Corrigan says "People can really help us out by using their water wisely, let Mother Nature water the grass for you as much as possible, and hold off on watering your grass if you can."
He says the water is completely safe to drink, however, he says "But once we do have to use water from the river, we also have a dedicated nitrate removal facility that is very effective."
Water Works says if demand continues to increase and nitrates remain high, lawn watering could be prohibited in the future to avoid exceeding the nitrate drinking water standard.