What measures has CIWW taken to prepare for this issue, and are there any future plans?

Q. What measures has CIWW taken to prepare for this issue, and are there any future plans?

Since 1992, our member agencies have been integrating nitrate-resilient assets into the water system. The McMullen Water Treatment Plant, the Saylorville Water Treatment Plant, the nitrate removal facility, Aquifer Storage and Recovery Wells, and low nitrate reservoirs are just a few of the assets. A wetland was even constructed within Water Works Park to facilitate the natural filtration of raw water before it reaches the water treatment plant.

In addition, our member agencies have formed partnerships in the watershed that include the purchase of a cover crop seeder to help improve water quality conditions upstream, educational programs for upstream landowners, and hundreds of tours and conversations to share how upstream land use affects downstream water users.

Looking toward the future, we are currently designing an expansion of the Saylorville Water Treatment Plant, we are evaluating the addition of nitrate vessels to our nitrate removal facility, we have awarded a planning and design contract for a new water treatment plant in Dallas County, and we are evaluating submissions for an engineering firm for the Grimes Plant Expansion. This infrastructure will be funded with low interest loans through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. The debt has been authorized by the board of trustees and approved by SRF.

CIWW and our member agencies will be adding 25% more nitrate resiliency over the next 7 years. 

These plans are not in response to our current nitrate issues, in fact, they have been in the works for many years. The good news is that they provide an added layer of nitrate resiliency to our system.