March 19, 2024

Water utility plans to expand nitrate removal facility

DES MOINES — Des Moines Water Works plans to double the size of the nitrate removal facility that treats drinking water from the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. The utility’s board this week approved an $800,000 design contract. The utility expects to spend $15 million on the project, and officials say the new equipment and the cost to operate it will require bigger future rate increases. The utility had sued three northern Iowa counties for increased nitrate levels.