In response to ongoing concerns surrounding water quality in the Des Moines area, the Osceola Water Board voted last week to reaffirm its commitment to providing customers with safe, high quality drinking water by increasing the frequency of nitrate sampling at the Osceola water treatment facility.
Beginning immediately, the Osceola Water Works treatment plant staff will conduct weekly in-house nitrate testing to closely monitor changing conditions as well as submitting additional samples to the Iowa DNR for certified laboratory analysis on a quarterly basis.
“Providing safe, reliable drinking water is our top priority,” said Brandon Patterson, Osceola Water Works Superintendent. “More frequent testing gives us better data, builds community confidence, and demonstrates our commitment to our customers.”
Under current Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) operating permit mandates, Osceola Water Works is required to collect samples and test for nitrates once a year, in the period of January 1st and March 31st.
Osceola Water Works Nitrate (N) levels have been <0.125 mg/L consistently for the past 8 years and historically, since 1980, always lower than 2 mg/L; well below the EPA standards of maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L for Nitrates (N).
Typically, lake water (West Lake), does not have high nitrate levels compared to that of rivers or groundwater. Because lakes are still or slow-moving bodies of water, the water is trapped and tends to process nitrates naturally. Algae and aquatic plants quickly consume most of the nitrates, resulting in lower concentrations (often less than 1 mg/L) unless there is excessive fertilizer or animal waste runoff.
In comparison, rivers are flowing systems, (Des Moines River and Raccoon River), and generally have much higher nitrate concentrations than lakes. Rivers act as primary runoff channels that continuously collect agricultural fertilizer and wastewater.
If you have any questions about Osceola Water Works water quality, please contact the Osceola Water Works office at 208 West Jefferson Street, PO Box 515, Osceola, IA 50213, by phone: (641) 342-1435, or by email at osceolawater2@windstream.net.
