DES MOINES, Iowa — Due to the heavy rainfall, nitrate levels are falling in the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River, allowing a partial lifting of water restrictions.

Back on June 12^th, lawn watering ban restrictions started when nitrate concentrations were 50 percent higher than what is considered safe in the rivers.

Central Iowa Water Works also accesses water through its infiltration gallery. The gallery is a series of underground pipes that collect filtered groundwater. Water from the gallery is testing within safe levels and CIWW expects future declines.

“Historically speaking the nitrates should be continuing to be declining over the next several weeks. In fact, historically over the last 25 years, the nitrates should all be below 10 milligrams per liter into August,” said Kyle Danley, COO of Central Iowa Water Works.

On Tuesday, CIWW is relaxing lawn watering restrictions. Homeowners with an even-numbered address can water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday while those with odd-numbered addresses should water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

No watering is permitted on Mondays.

CIWW said it will phase in commercial, city, county, state and school district irrigation as nitrate levels continue to drop.