News Release:
CIWW Announces Phased Lifting of the Lawn Irrigation Ban Starting with Residential Customers

Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) officials announced today that the lawn irrigation ban, activated as part of the utility’s Water Shortage Plan, is being lifted in stages over the next three weeks. The first stage begins Tuesday, July 22, with allowing residential customers to water using an even and odd schedule as shown below.  

“Many factors led to this decision today,” said Tami Madsen, executive director of CIWW. “As we have said several times, we needed to see nitrate concentrations in at least one water source decline to 10 mg/l and stay there for a sustained period. This week, that happened in the Infiltration Gallery.” 

The Gallery is a three-mile stretch of underground pipes that collect alluvial groundwater, which is then naturally filtered through sand and gravel before being delivered to the Fleur Drive Treatment Plant for further treatment. The gallery has the capacity to produce more than 30 million gallons of water daily. 

“As nitrate concentrations continue to decrease, we will add in commercial lawn irrigation, and in the final phase, we will add in local governments including city, county, state and school districts,” Madsen said.  

Throughout the lawn irrigation ban, all water produced by CIWW has continued to meet all safe drinking water standards.

“We have a responsibility to deliver safe water for everyone, and that has been challenged by the water quality issues in our major water sources, which necessitated this ban,” Madsen said. “We are deeply appreciative of the compliance and support we have received throughout our region.” 

CIWW is a cooperative regional authority responsible for water system planning, drinking water treatment, and wholesale delivery of drinking water to approximately 600,000 people in Central Iowa.  

The 12 founding members of CIWW are Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines Water Works, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Polk City, Urbandale Water Utility, Warren Water District, Waukee, West Des Moines Water Works and Xenia Rural Water District. Des Moines Water Works also includes Alleman, Berwick, Bondurant, Cumming, Pleasant Hill, Runnells, Unincorporated Polk County and Windsor Heights. 

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