(18) Think Downstream - Water Quality at Des Moines Water Works
Clean Drinking Water Importance
Safe drinking water is crucial for life, yet often taken for granted.
Over 500,000 people in Des Moines and surrounding areas rely on Des Moines Water Works for their water supply.
The organization is committed to maintaining high water quality despite increasing pollution in Iowa's waterways.
Impact of Water Pollution
Water pollution affects not only drinking water but also recreation, wildlife, and business operations.
The source water for Des Moines Water Works comes from the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, which lie within a watershed system.
Watersheds collect and transport water; pollutants from land or groundwater can contaminate this water.
Types of Pollutants
Eroded Soil
Problem: High soil concentrations from farm fields and urban sites.
Effects:
Prevent sunlight from reaching aquatic plants leading to decreased oxygen production.
Warmer water results from increased heat absorption which holds less oxygen.
Soil buildup fills lakes and streams, reducing habitats for aquatic species.
Bacteria
Sources: Feedlot runoff, malfunctioning manure storage, excessive livestock waste, and leaky septic systems. Dog waste also contributes.
Consequences: Water sources can become unsafe for drinking and recreation, particularly after heavy rains.
Excess Nutrients (Fertilizers)
Issue: Fertilizers benefit agriculture but excess amounts end up in waterways due to tile lines and urban runoff.
Results:
High nutrient levels lead to algal blooms, which consume oxygen in water, harming aquatic ecosystems.
Some algae can produce toxins detrimental to all forms of life.
Nitrate Concerns
Bacteria in soil convert nutrients into nitrates; excess consumption leads to health risks like "Blue Baby Syndrome" in infants.
The Safe Drinking Water Act sets a maximum nitrate level (10 mg/l) due to its potential health hazards.
Des Moines Water Works established a Nitrate Removal Facility in 1992, among the largest worldwide, to combat this problem.
Cost of Nitrate Management
In 2015, the facility operated for 177 days, costing $4,000-$7,000 per day, totaling around $1.5 million.
These expenses reflect the growing issue of nitrate levels in Iowa's waterways and the efforts required to ensure safe drinking water.
Broader Environmental Impact
Pollutants contribute to larger issues such as the expanding dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, impacting marine life.
Soil, bacteria, and other pollutants declining the overall health of ecosystems worldwide.
Community and Agricultural Solutions
Farmers can utilize strategies like planting buffer strips, using cover crops, and regulating fertilizer use to decrease runoff.
Urban areas can adopt better landscaping practices and manage waste responsibly to protect water resources.
Des Moines Water Works Goals
Continue delivering safe, clean drinking water effectively and efficiently for the community.
Enhance water safety strategies for the future, involving community participation in safeguarding local water supplies.
Encourage public awareness of individual responsibility in protecting water quality: "think downstream" for collective benefit.
Clean Drinking Water Importance
Safe drinking water is not only essential for human health but is also fundamental for socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, and overall quality of life. In the city of Des Moines and surrounding areas, over 500,000 residents depend on Des Moines Water Works for their potable water supply. The organization is dedicated to maintaining high water quality standards, even as they face increasing challenges from pollution and contamination in Iowa's waterways due to urbanization, agricultural practices, and industrial runoff.
Impact of Water Pollution
Water pollution poses a significant threat, affecting not only drinking water quality but also recreational activities, wildlife habitats, and local business operations that rely on clean water. The source water for Des Moines Water Works is sourced primarily from the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, both of which are part of a larger watershed system. These watersheds play a crucial role in collecting and transporting surface water. Unfortunately, pollutants from agricultural runoff, urban development, and leaky sewage systems can severely contaminate these water sources, leading to dire consequences for ecosystems and human health.
Types of Pollutants
Eroded Soil
Problem: High concentrations of eroded soil from agricultural fields and urban areas significantly impact water quality.
Effects: Excessive sedimentation prevents sunlight from reaching aquatic plants, reducing oxygen production and disrupts the growth of aquatic plants. Warmer water temperatures result from increased sediment, which holds less oxygen, subsequently harming fish and other aquatic life. Additionally, sediment buildup leads to the reduction of habitats for various aquatic species, making it even harder for them to survive.
Bacteria
Sources: The primary sources of bacterial contamination in water are feedlot runoff, ineffective manure storage, excessive livestock waste, and malfunctioning septic systems. Pet waste, particularly from dogs, also contributes to high bacterial loads.
Consequences: The presence of harmful bacteria can render water unsafe for both drinking and recreational activities, especially post heavy rainfall events when runoff is most pronounced.
Excess Nutrients (Fertilizers)
Issue: While fertilizers are crucial for agricultural productivity, their excessive use often leads to nutrient runoff into nearby waterways through agricultural tile lines and urban runoff.
Results: Elevated nutrient levels, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, can result in harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygen in the water, leading to hypoxia and adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems. These blooms can also produce toxins that pose significant health risks to humans and wildlife alike.
Nitrate Concerns
Mechanism: Soil bacteria convert organic matter into nitrates through natural processes. However, excessive consumption of nitrates can pose serious health risks, notably the condition known as “Blue Baby Syndrome” in infants, which affects their ability to transport oxygen in the blood.
Regulations: The Safe Drinking Water Act establishes a maximum nitrate concentration permissible in drinking water (10 mg/l) due to the substantial health risks associated with high nitrate levels.
Facility: In response to these challenges, Des Moines Water Works established a Nitrate Removal Facility in 1992, which became one of the largest facilities of its kind globally, allowing for the effective treatment of nitrates in local water supplies.
Cost of Nitrate Management
In 2015, the Nitrate Removal Facility operated for 177 days at an operational cost ranging from $4,000 to $7,000 each day, accumulating an overall cost of approximately $1.5 million. These costs highlight the growing challenge of managing nitrate contamination in Iowa's waterways while ensuring the community's access to safe drinking water.
Broader Environmental Impact
Pollutants in water systems extend beyond local areas, contributing to larger environmental issues, such as the expanding hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico, which detrimentally affects marine life and coastal ecosystems. The interconnectivity of soil, bacteria, and other pollutants within the waterways threatens the overall health of ecosystems worldwide, leading to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
Community and Agricultural Solutions
To combat these pollution issues, farmers can implement best management practices such as:
Buffer Strips: Planting vegetation along the edges of fields to absorb and filter out potential contaminants.
Cover Crops: Utilizing crops that cover the soil during the off-season to prevent erosion and nutrient runoff.
Fertilizer Regulation: Strategically applying fertilizers based on soil testing and weather conditions to minimize excess runoff.
Urban areas must also take proactive measures, such as improved landscaping practices, responsible waste management, and better stormwater management practices to protect water resources from potential pollutants.
Des Moines Water Works Goals
Des Moines Water Works is focused on continuing to deliver safe and clean drinking water effectively and efficiently for the community. The organization seeks to enhance its water safety strategies for the future, fostering community involvement in protecting local water supplies. Public awareness campaigns encourage individuals to take responsibility for their actions, promoting the idea of “thinking downstream” to benefit the health of the ecosystem as a whole.