Central Iowa Water Works to scale back lawn-watering ban – KCCI

Report on Water Management and Sustainable Development in Central Iowa

Introduction: Balancing Water Demand with Public Health Imperatives

Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) has initiated a partial rollback of a mandatory lawn-watering ban, transitioning to a managed schedule for residential customers. This decision follows a five-week period of strict water conservation necessitated by a critical convergence of high water demand and elevated nitrate levels in primary water sources. The situation underscores the challenges in meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The measures implemented by CIWW reflect a direct response to threats against the provision of safe drinking water and highlight the need for responsible consumption and production patterns (SDG 12) within communities.

Addressing SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Water Quality Crisis: Nitrate Contamination and Public Health

The core issue precipitating the water ban was the failure to meet a key target of SDG 6: ensuring access to safe drinking water. High nitrate concentrations in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, as well as in local groundwater sources, surpassed the 10 milligrams per liter safety standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency. This contamination, coupled with peak demand for lawn irrigation, overwhelmed the regional authority’s capacity to treat water effectively. This event serves as a critical case study in the challenges of achieving SDG Target 6.3 (improve water quality by reducing pollution) and SDG Target 6.1 (achieve universal access to safe drinking water).

Demand Management and Water Use Efficiency (SDG 6.4)

In response to the crisis, CIWW implemented a series of measures aimed at increasing water-use efficiency, a direct objective of SDG Target 6.4. The progression of these actions demonstrates a data-driven approach to resource management:

1. A request for a voluntary 25% reduction in water usage in late May.
2. A subsequent request for a 50% voluntary reduction on June 11.
3. The implementation of a mandatory, comprehensive lawn-watering ban on June 12.

These steps were necessary to align water consumption with the utility’s capacity to provide water that is safe for human consumption, prioritizing public health over non-essential uses.

Phased Reintroduction of Water Usage and Monitoring

New Residential Watering Schedule

Effective Tuesday, a new phased approach permits residential lawn watering based on an odd/even address system. This strategy aims to manage demand while monitoring the impact on the water system’s nitrate levels. The schedule is as follows:

• Sunday: Even-numbered addresses may water.
• Monday: No watering permitted.
• Tuesday: Odd-numbered addresses may water.
• Wednesday: Even-numbered addresses may water.
• Thursday: Odd-numbered addresses may water.
• Friday: Even-numbered addresses may water.
• Saturday: Odd-numbered addresses may water.

Continued Restrictions and Future Outlook

The commitment to providing safe drinking water remains the primary mission. Consequently, restrictions on lawn watering for commercial and government properties will continue. The CIWW Technical Committee plans to reintroduce watering for these sectors in a future phase, with the timing contingent on sustained low demand and safe nitrate levels. The utility aims for a full lifting of all restrictions in August, subject to favorable environmental and operational data. This cautious, monitored approach is essential for ensuring community resilience and the long-term sustainability of the water supply.

Implications for Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

Promoting Responsible Consumption and Urban Resilience

This water management crisis highlights the interconnectedness of urban consumption patterns and environmental health, a key concern of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The restrictions, while disruptive, serve to educate the public on the finite nature of treated water and promote more responsible consumption. By managing demand and prioritizing the health of its citizens, CIWW is taking necessary steps to build a more resilient urban water system capable of withstanding environmental pressures, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability of the community.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text revolves around the challenges of providing safe drinking water to the residents of Central Iowa. It discusses water quality issues (high nitrate levels), water resource management (balancing demand and treatment capacity), and access to safe water, which are all central tenets of SDG 6.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article focuses on an issue within a specific urban area, Des Moines, and its surrounding region. It details how a municipal authority (Central Iowa Water Works) is managing a critical resource for its population. The policies, such as the watering ban, directly impact the daily lives of residential, commercial, and government entities within the community, linking the issue to the sustainable management of cities.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article highlights the problem of excessive water consumption for non-essential purposes like lawn irrigation. The response from the water authority—requesting voluntary reductions and implementing a mandatory ban followed by a structured watering schedule—is a direct attempt to influence and manage consumption patterns to ensure the sustainability of the water supply.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  Although not the primary focus, this goal is relevant because the source of the problem is the contamination of freshwater ecosystems. The article states that “High nitrate levels in the CIWW’s three main water sources — the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers” are a key cause of the crisis. This points to pollution affecting inland water bodies, which is a concern under SDG 15.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article’s main theme is the effort by Central Iowa Water Works to fulfill its “mission of providing safe drinking water” amidst challenges. The threat of high nitrate levels directly jeopardizes the safety of the water supply for the entire community.
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… The article explicitly mentions the problem of “High nitrate levels” in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, which is a form of pollution. The utility’s struggle is to treat the water to meet the “safe nitrate level of 10 milligrams per liter, set by the Environmental Protection Agency,” which is a direct measure of water quality.
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors… The crisis was triggered when high nitrate levels “coincided with a big increase in water demand due to lawn irrigation.” The response, including the “mandatory lawn-watering ban” and the new odd/even schedule, are direct policy actions aimed at managing water demand and promoting more efficient use by residential and commercial customers.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The high water demand for lawn irrigation represents a significant environmental impact of the city’s residents. The water authority’s actions are an attempt to manage and reduce this per capita impact to maintain the stability of the water system.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The article is a case study in managing a natural resource (freshwater) under stress. The implementation of watering restrictions is a clear strategy to ensure the “sustainable management and efficient use” of the water supply by curbing non-essential consumption.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Water Quality Measurement: The article explicitly mentions a key indicator for water quality: the concentration of nitrates. The text states the utility’s goal is to treat water to the “safe nitrate level of 10 milligrams per liter, set by the Environmental Protection Agency.” This quantitative value is a direct indicator used to monitor the safety of the drinking water and measure progress toward Target 6.3.
• Water Demand/Usage Levels: The article implies the use of water demand as an indicator. It mentions that the crisis was caused by a “big increase in water demand” and that the new watering schedule is intended to “ensure usage continues at a level the agency can maintain.” The email draft also refers to making decisions based on “operational data” and monitoring “what demand… do[es],” indicating that water consumption volume is a key metric for measuring the effectiveness of the restrictions (related to Target 6.4 and 12.2).
• Proportion of Population with Access to Safe Water: While not stated as a number, the core mission of the utility is to provide “safe drinking water” to all its customers (residential, commercial, government). The success of their interventions can be measured by their ability to consistently supply water that meets safety standards to the entire service population, which is an implied indicator for Target 6.1.

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kcci.com