By: CIWW Staff
Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) continues to actively manage the regional drinking water supply while preparing for the high-demand summer season. The system relies on carefully managed reserves to supply safe, reliable drinking water to more than 600,000 Iowans across rural, suburban, and urban communities.
Sustained elevated nitrate concentrations in the region’s primary sources of raw water – the Des Moines River, Racoon River, and the Infiltration Gallery – have limited CIWW’s ability to fully replenish summer reserves and required earlier, more strategic use of stored supplies. CIWW is actively managing operations to maintain reliable service, reinforcing the importance of thoughtful water use across the region.
As part of this proactive approach, CIWW is encouraging central Iowans to use water wisely, both indoors and outdoors. Lawn watering alone can account for up to 40% of the region’s total water use, making it one of the most impactful areas for water conservation.
With recent rainfall and cooler temperatures providing ample moisture, most lawns do not currently require irrigation. Keeping irrigation systems off for now helps preserve water for periods when it is needed most later in the season. Letting natural rainfall do the work is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support the region’s water supply.
Smart Water Use
Central Iowans can make a meaningful impact by adopting simple, efficient water use practices at home and outdoors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense program and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Office
offer practical tips for reducing water use while maintaining healthy homes and landscapes.
- How We Use Water: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water
- Water Use in our Homes: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/start-saving
- Water Use Outdoors: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/outdoors
- Watering Home Lawns: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/watering-home-lawns
When lawn watering becomes necessary, CIWW recommends following an alternating schedule based on property address:
- Addresses ending in an even number: Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Addresses ending in an odd number: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- No lawn watering on Mondays
It may not be necessary to water all three days; if the soil is moist and the grass is not showing signs of stress, skip a day.
Additional best practices include:
- Water early in the morning (5 a.m. to 9 a.m.) or late in the evening
- Avoid watering during windy conditions or after rainfall
- Direct sprinklers onto grass, not sidewalks or driveways
- Check systems regularly and repair leaks promptly
- Consider contacting your lawn care professional for a smart irrigation controller, these systems optimize water use and can reduce consumption by up to 50%.
Investing in a Strong Water Future
CIWW continues to make significant investments to strengthen and expand the regional water system while also advancing strategies to use existing supplies more efficiently. The Board of Trustees has authorized more than $1.2 billion in capital improvements over the next 25 years to increase capacity and enhance resiliency, complemented by ongoing demand management efforts led by the Water Usage Best Practices Committee.
Major projects include:
- Expansion of the Saylorville Water Treatment Plant from 10 to 20 million gallons per day
- Expansion of the Grimes Water Treatment Plant, adding approximately 3 million gallons per day
- A new water treatment facility in Dallas County, expected to add 12 million
gallons per day by 2032 - A future Saylorville expansion that could add an additional 50 million gallons per day
In addition, the legislature announced a $25 million grant to support expansion of the nitrate removal facility at the Fleur Drive Water Treatment Plant, potentially doubling its nitrate removal capacity within three years of construction. Alongside these infrastructure investments, the CIWW Water Usage Best Practices Committee meets monthly to develop and recommend strategies to promote efficient water use across the region. Working with member agencies and stakeholders, the committee focuses on conservation measures, demand management, and public outreach to help ensure a sustainable and resilient water system.
Looking Ahead
With continued community participation and ongoing infrastructure investments, CIWW is well-positioned to meet the challenges of the season while building a stronger, more resilient water system for the future.
CIWW will continue to monitor conditions and keep the public informed.
Central Iowa Water Works
Founded in 2024 by 12 entities representing utilities, communities and rural providers, Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) is the regional authority responsible for drinking water treatment, water system planning and the wholesale delivery of water across urban, suburban and rural central Iowa. Together, CIWW members own seven water treatment plants, serve more than 600,000 Iowans, and distribute nearly 20 billion gallons of water each year.
The founding members of CIWW are the cities of Ankeny, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Polk City, and Waukee, Des Moines Water Works, Urbandale Water Utility, West Des Moines Water Works, Warren Water District, and Xenia Rural Water. These local water utilities, rural providers or city water departments remain the contact for new accounts, bill-paying, water distribution, and customer service.