Photo: Photography by Keith Getter (all rights reserved) / Moment / Getty Images
(Des Moines, IA) -- Nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers are up.
“In fact, our nitrate levels in our source waters are just as high as they were this summer. The only difference is the demand,” said Amy Kahler, CEO of Des Moines Water Works.
High nitrate levels led to central Iowa’s first‑ever lawn‑watering ban last summer.
Kahler told the Des Moines City Council that the safe drinking water standard is 10 milligrams per liter.
Nitrate levels in the Raccoon River have been climbing since the start of the new year, reaching about 15 to 16 milligrams per liter, but have recently dropped to around 12 milligrams per liter. The Des Moines River currently has higher nitrate levels than the Raccoon River, something Kahler says is unusual.
Despite the elevated levels, Kahler says the water supply continues to meet all safety standards, thanks to Water Works’ nitrate‑removal equipment, which has been running throughout the winter.