Water quality report reveals contamination concerns in Iowa

QUAD CITIES, Iowa (KWQC) - Central Iowa’s water supply is contaminated with nitrates, which largely come from agriculture, according to a new report.

Experts said the main water quality issues in the Quad Cities are nitrates and lead pipes affecting drinking water, which can cause health issues.

“The state of Iowa has extremely high nitrate levels,” Colleen Fowle, Water Program Director for the Iowa Environmental Council, said. “Recent research throughout the country has identified areas of concern, and Iowa’s rivers are in the top 1% of nitrate concentrations in the entire country.”

Health impacts of water contamination

Fowle said that in children, high levels of lead can lead to learning disabilities, problems with their growth rate, anemia, and hearing impairments.

“Whereas in adults we usually see lead poisoning in the form of kidney damage, high blood pressure, and then central nervous system issues,” she said.

Dr. Jerald L. Schnoor, Emeritus Professor at the University of Iowa, said nitrates create health problems like cancer and a lack of oxygen in children’s blood, known as blue baby syndrome.

Both scientists said that while water quality in the Quad Cities meets EPA standards, recent studies show that lower levels of lead and nitrates can impact health.

“The Quad Cities drinking water record has been quite good, and there haven’t been violations of the EPA standards, but we’re asking questions whether EPA standards are enough and whether they should even be more stringent,” Schnoor said. “Because of that, some people just go ahead and install some type of additional filter.”

Algal blooms pose additional risks

Schnoor also warned about E. Coli in recreational water and harmful algal blooms.

“If the water looks kind of paint-like blue-green, you shouldn’t swim there, and you shouldn’t even allow your pets to go in there because it’s very toxic,” Schnoor said.

Agricultural impact and funding challenges

Agriculture plays a key role, as runoff can cause nitrate pollution, Schnoor said.

Researching water quality can be costly, and experts at the University of Iowa said their funding has been cut and will run out in June of next year.

Schnoor says if there’s a chance of that funding and the support it gives water protection coming back, people need to take an active role in demanding it.

“Citizens have to be active both at the polls and in lobbying our legislatures, at the state level, to try to take better care of our water quality,” Schnoor said.

Water filters can help prevent exposure, but Fowle said water treatment addresses the effects, not the cause, and solutions like sustainable agricultural practices would help.

Here are resources available to test your water and to learn more about water quality:

Iowa Water Quality Reports

Webinar about water pollution in Iowa

Lead service line inventory grant - Illinois

Track if lead lines exist in your area

Guide for Water Quality Testing for Nitrate