Central Iowa’s drinking water system is benefiting from a coordinated strategy that combines watershed improvements upstream, water stewardship, and major investments in water treatment infrastructure throughout the region. Recent actions by the State of Iowa and CIWW demonstrate how protecting water quality requires both prevention and treatment working together.
Investments in Infrastructure
CIWW and its member agencies continue making substantial investments in drinking water infrastructure to ensure reliable treatment and delivery of safe drinking water. Since the Nitrate Removal Facility was first placed into service in 1992, CIWW’s member agencies have consistently invested in treatment facilities, wells, reservoirs, transmission systems, water quality studies, and other critical infrastructure needed to serve a growing region.
That commitment continues today. CIWW and its member agencies have identified approximately $1.2 billion in planned infrastructure investments to meet future water supply, treatment, storage, and transmission needs. Many of these projects are already underway, reflecting the region’s proactive approach to long-term water planning.
These infrastructure investments are especially important as central Iowa experiences continued population growth and increasing demands on the regional water system. Major projects currently underway include the Hickman Road Feeder Main project, the Saylorville Water Treatment Plant Expansion, the Grimes Water Treatment Plant Expansion, and planning for a new water treatment plant in Dallas County. Bringing a new water treatment plant online today typically takes eight to ten years from initial concept to delivering drinking water to customers. Many of these projects have already been in development for several years and will require several more before they begin producing water. Together, these upgrades and investments are designed to strengthen system reliability and resiliency of the regional water system for decades to come.
Conservation Practices
At the same time, CIWW supports the State of Iowa’s commitment to improving water quality through additional funding for an partnership of upstream and downstream stakeholders, a collaborative effort focused on reducing nutrient runoff before it reaches rivers and streams. The initiative provides the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) an estimated $52 million in new funding over the next 12 years to support conservation practices throughout the Greater Des Moines watershed. These new funds are in addition to the nearly $100 million annually towards improving water quality, as well as significant federal investments in conservation and watershed protection.
These investments will help farmers and landowners implement proven water quality practices such as cover crops, edge-of-field buffers, wetlands, and managed grazing systems. The Greater Des Moines watershed encompasses 22 counties across northwest, north central, and central Iowa. Because these watersheds feed the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers that ultimately supply drinking water to central Iowa, conservation efforts in these upstream areas can have a meaningful impact on source water quality downstream.
A key example of this partnership between state and regional investment is the State of Iowa’s $25 million contribution toward expanding CIWW’s nitrate removal infrastructure. The funding will help increase nitrate treatment capacity, providing additional operational flexibility during periods when nitrate concentrations in source waters are elevated.
The State’s investment recognizes an important reality: improving water quality begins long before water reaches a treatment plant. By reducing nutrient losses from land surfaces, conservation practices help improve water quality in rivers and streams while also providing benefits such as soil health improvements, reduced erosion, and enhanced wildlife habitat.
Neither conservation nor infrastructure alone can solve central Iowa’s long-term water quality challenges. Conservation practices help address water quality concerns at their source, while treatment infrastructure ensures drinking water continues to meet all state and federal standards regardless of changing conditions in rivers and streams.
Water Stewardship
Equally important is how we use water after it reaches our homes and businesses. CIWW’s Water Usage Best Practices Committee is working to foster a culture of water stewardship across central Iowa. As our region grows and new challenges emerge, we have an opportunity to think differently about how we use one of our most valuable natural resources. For decades, water has been viewed as an unlimited resource, today’s realities tell a different story.
Emerging contaminants such as PFAS, increasing occurrences of harmful algal blooms and cyanotoxins, prolonged drought conditions, and growing regional demand all reinforce that clean, reliable drinking water requires thoughtful stewardship. Every gallon of water that must be withdrawn, treated, pumped, and delivered represents both a financial cost and the use of a finite natural resource.
Responsible water use benefits everyone. Using only the water we need lowers household utility bills, reduces demand on treatment facilities and distribution systems, and helps preserve drinking water resources for future generations. This includes making informed choices both indoors and outdoors, from repairing leaks and installing water-efficient fixtures to selecting drought-tolerant landscaping and irrigating only when necessary.
Water conservation should not be viewed as a temporary response during periods of drought or water quality challenges. Rather, it is an important component of long-term water resource management that complements investments in watershed protection and treatment infrastructure. Building a culture of water stewardship today will help ensure central Iowa remains resilient in the face of future challenges.
Together, these investments represent a comprehensive approach to water management. Upstream conservation improves source water quality, regional infrastructure ensures safe and reliable treatment and delivery, and responsible water use helps preserve a valuable resource while reducing costs for customers and the system alike.
As central Iowa continues to grow, this combination of watershed stewardship and infrastructure investment will help ensure that reliable, high-quality drinking water remains available for future generations. The State of Iowa’s commitment to both conservation, CIWW’S investments in treatment infrastructure, and community-wide commitment to wise water use demonstrate that protecting our water resources requires actions at every stage of the water cycle, from farm fields and streams to treatment plants, homes, and businesses.
The result is a stronger, more resilient regional water system that benefits communities, businesses, agriculture, and the environment alike.