Nitrate Levels Excessive and Historic; Water Works Takes Measures to Lessen Impact

A news release from West Des Moines Water Works:

West Des Moines Water Works is increasing production at its treatment plant starting today to ensure water safety and quality to its customers in Pressure District 3 (PD3). Customers in this area of the city receive water purchased from Des Moines Water Works. As a result of heavy rains, nitrate levels are increasing in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers to excessive and historic levels.

“Des Moines Water Works is working around the clock on this issue, and together our No. 1 concern is for the safety and quality of the water we provide,” explained Diana Wilson, general manager of West Des Moines Water Works. “By stepping up our production, we are protecting our customers from potential problems caused by high nitrate levels as well as alleviating some of the burden on Des Moines Water Works during this critical time.”

In late May, Des Moines Water Works posted a warning on its web site about historic nitrate levels in its primary water sources – the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers– and informed the public it had stopped “pulling water from either river.” DMWW drinking water remains safe and compliant with regulations.

West Des Moines Water Works sources its water from a combination of shallow and deep wells, which are not susceptible to the runoff now affecting high nitrate levels in Iowa rivers. The utility plans to increase the use of its own source water and minimize purchase of water from DMWW as long as the nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers remain exceptionally high.

Pressure District 3 as shown here is a triangular-shaped area bordered on the north by University Avenue and on the south by Mills Civic Parkway. Water customers here will now receive a blend of primarily treated well water with a limited amount of DMWW water.

Typically, WDMWW purchases water from Des Moines to supplement its own treated groundwater production. It is reducing the amount of water it buys from DMWW while nitrate levels remain high.

“We will blend our treated water to greatly reduce the number of customers receiving elevated levels of nitrate, and ensure that all of our customers continue to receive water that complies with state and federal standards,” Wilson added. “Our treated water production will increase by approximately 20 percent, allowing Des Moines Water Works to deploy water that would have been distributed to West Des Moines to other users for the foreseeable future.”

Customers in PD3 will notice virtually no difference in the aesthetics of the water they receive. Well water, however, possesses a higher mineral content than surface water (rivers, streams and lakes).

“While hardness and appearance won’t change, commercial treatment systems may need to be temporarily adjusted,” said Mitch Pinkerton, water production manager at WDM. For more information, questions can be directed to Pinkerton at 515-273-0731.

The West Des Moines Water Works is owned by the citizens of West Des Moines and governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. Appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council for staggered six-year terms, the trustees formulate policies and govern the operations of the water utility.

Managed by a professional staff, West Des Moines Water Works is supported solely by the revenues it generates by supplying water to the community’s residents and businesses.