DES MOINES, Iowa — Every two years the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has to submit a list of impaired bodies of water. More than half of Iowa’s rivers and lakes are considered impaired, and the five new rivers added onto the list have high levels of nitrate and nitrite.

Because the DNR did not have segments of the Des Moines, Raccoon, Cedar, Iowa and South Skunk Rivers, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added them on; noting that the DNR did not take all scientific information and data into account. You can read the report here.

Now the DNR will have to take action once the list becomes official at the end of the year. Nitrates and nitrites are toxic to humans, and the measurements taken out of those added rivers did not meet the federal standard for drinking water supply.

“Because of the fact that nitrates have been a challenge for a long time we’re well prepared for that. We have a nitrate removal facility here that effectively removes nitrate when we get too high of a concentration,” said Ted Corrigan, CEO and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works. “So we’re in good shape, this new list doesn’t mean that we’re going to have more problems than we have had in the past. We’re prepared, but hopefully this will result in an action being taken to help solve that problem.”

The section of the Raccoon River that the EPA added to the list is the portion that is used for the drinking water supply maintained by Des Moines Water Works. The drinking water is safe and the EPA tells WHO 13 News that it is not aware of any current nitrate violations in finished drinking water from the rivers, but warns that the quality of water could raise consumer costs in the future.

The Raccoon River was most recently on the list back in 2006. It took two years for implementation of new daily standards to control chemical levels, it was taken off the list in 2008. This is the first time this segment has been on the list since then.

Corrigan said he’d rather the portion of the river be on the list so that a solution can come quicker.

“The unfortunate thing is that there are literally hundreds of impaired segments on the list and only a small number of them have a plan developed for them each year, so it kind of goes on the list and waits, frankly,” said Corrigan.

Different organizations have called on the Iowa DNR to act on the nitrate issue, which stems directly from runoff from Iowa’s commercial farming fields. You can view the Iowa’s impaired water list on the DNR’s website.

The EPA is asking for public comment until Dec. 13 this year and the list will be finalized and given back to the state for action. You can go to the EPA’s website to add public comments about the nitrate issue.

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