Thanks Industrialized agriculure-Des Moines Struggling With Nitrates in Water

[RiverLover]

Des Moines Struggling With Nitrates in Water

Two rivers that supply water to 500,000 people in the Des Moines area show nitrate levels spiking to levels that make it unsafe for some to drink, a concentration experts haven't before seen in the fall that likely stems from especially wet weather in recent months.

The utility that supplies Des Moines and most of its suburbs had workers blending river water with other sources to lower the nitrate levels, but the situation may be nearing the point at which the city starts a process that costs about $7,000 a day to remove them. If that happens, the utility has threatened to sue the state.

... Monitors in rivers throughout the nation show no other sites with such high nitrate levels. But the issue is especially severe in parts of Iowa given the intense farming and tiling of land. More than 2 million acres in west-central Iowa drain into the Raccoon River, most of it cropland or livestock farms. An estimated 78 percent uses man-made drainage tiles to quickly move water downstream.

Although Iowa began a voluntary program in May 2013 that encourages farmers to make changes to reduce runoff, Stowe and environmental groups argue that strategy is toothless and lacks measurable benchmarks or a timeline for improvement.

For years, environmental groups have called for the state to regulate livestock farms, much as they already do for city wastewater treatment plans, which must have permits that limit release of contaminants into rivers. They're also seeking ways to measure and limit the release of nitrates from fields where tile has been laid underground....

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/des-moines-struggling-nitrates-water-27088697

They're trying the 'voluntary' crap here in Ohio too. We'll see how that cuts down on the blue-green algae in Lake Erie.

Its too bad FoxFiction made "regulations" a dirty word, along with "environmentalists"....

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Irony has come home once again.

Years ago the University of Iowa and other Midwestern Universities were warning of the side effects of using high concentrations of Nitrates. Specifically the leeching effect and the contamination of ground water. The facts were well known in the 1960's especially in Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa where farmers were recommended not to use their own wells for human or livestock use due to the heavy contamination of Nitrogen and Chlorides. Now water is piped in from Eastern South Dakota Fenns via Public Private Rural Water Companies. Just another Government Bailout for those Rethug Farmers who hate the Bureaucrats.

[RiverLover]

3. Interesting stuff! Thanks~ nt

[appal_jack]

2. I think that NYC has had good success with its voluntary watershed protections.

Last edited Sun Nov 23, 2014, 09:17 PM - Edit history (1)

While I am all about mandatory actions against big corporate entities, farmers are a different story. Most respond to incentives quite well. The USDA NRCS has a good history of incentivizing conservation practices.

If mandatory actions are the only way to protect water, then sure, they are worth it. But incentives and voluntary actions could be less expensive, have greater buy-in from farmers, and even be more effective over the long haul. While cost share programs and the like do have a cost, so does hiring inspectors and the legal battles that follow.

-app

[RiverLover]

4. "so does hiring inspectors and the legal battles that follow."

Sounds like the reason they don't do many fracking well site inspections or oversee frack waste removal. At least here in Ohio.

But I get what you're saying & I appreciate the difficulty of effective oversight.

[GeorgeGist]

5. Surely Joni will make 'em squeal.

[progressoid]

6. Or not.

Ernst calls for elimination of IRS, Dept. of Education and EPA

http://www.iptv.org/iowapress/story.cfm/story/11721/ip_20140424_4131_ernst_cutting_spending

I can't believe my state elected that woman.