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Des Moines River

With Fertilizer Pollution on the Rise, Iowa Will Invest $100 Million in Water Treatment

After years of worsening water quality, the move marks Gov. Kim Reynolds’ first official action to tackle harmful agricultural nutrients in state waterways. Critics say it’s “too little too late.”

By Anika Jane Beamer

The Des Moines River is a drinking water source for more than 600,000 Iowans. When nitrate levels in the river spike, Central Iowa Water Works spends $9,000 to $16,000 a day operating its removal facilities. Credit: Anika Jane Beamer/Inside Climate News
The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

Cleaner Water a Hope, Not a Given, for Iowa in 2026

By Anika Jane Beamer

An aerial view of farmland in the Des Moines metropolitan area. Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Iowa Counties Keep Water Quality Monitoring Afloat After State Funding Cuts

By Anika Jane Beamer

A view of the Des Moines River from Prospect Park in Des Moines, Iowa. Credit: Anika Jane Beamer/Inside Climate News

House Bill Amending the Clean Water Act Could Mean Dirtier Water Nationwide—And Especially in Iowa

By Anika Jane Beamer

The Des Moines River flows through downtown Ottumwa, Iowa. Credit: Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The Battle Over Polluted Water Beneath an Iowa Coal Ash Landfill

By Anika Jane Beamer

A view of the Des Moines River as it flows through downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Credit: Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio

Pollution, Not Drought, Prompts Lawn-Watering Ban in Des Moines

By Anika Jane Beamer

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