Post on 09-Aug-2020
News & Updates from
DES MOINES WATER WORkS
JANUARY 2015
Since 2010, Des Moines Water Works has been collecting data from ten
groundwater observation wells and six wetland sites in the Saylorville
area of unincorporated Polk County, Iowa. These observation wells and
wetland sites are located in the local area surrounding the two radial collector
wells constructed by Des Moines Water Works on federal land along the Des
Moines River. Collection of this data and submittal of an annual report is
required by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as one of the condi-
tions for the use of the federal land by the Water Works for the radial collector
wells. These wells serve as the raw water supply for the Saylorville Water
Treatment Plant.
Another condition required for the Des Moines Water Works’ use of federal
land for the radial collector wells is to periodically divert water produced by the
wells to some of the nearby wetlands. To accomplish this, piping was installed
during the construction of the wells so water could be pumped directly to the
wetlands during certain times of the years.
Des Moines Water Works started to fill two of the wetland areas on October 1. This program can significantly improve habitat for
waterfowl during fall migration. Target species included in the program are Wood Ducks and Teal early in the fall, and Mallards and Canada
Geese very late in the season.
2201 George Flagg Parkway | Des Moines, IA 50321 | (515) 283-8700 | www.dmww.com | | dsmh2o.com
Saylorville Wetlands
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which
Congress passed on December 16, 1974, directing EPA to implement a series of regulations and standards to protect public drinking water
from source to tap. The law was amended in 1986 and again in 1996 to include additional actions to protect drinking water, including those
that recognize the needs for source water protection, training for water system operators, funding for water system improvements, and public
information about the quality of treated water to inform water consumers and hold water delivery systems accountable.
Continued high nitrate levels in Des Moines Water Works’ source waters – the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers – forced Des Moines Water
Works to activate its nitrate removal facility early December 2014. On December 16, 2014, the 40th anniversary of the SDWA, the denitrification
facility remained in use in order to ensure Des Moines Water Works’ finished drinking water was safe for consumption, as defined by the SDWA.
Des Moines Water Works staff employed extensive efforts to mitigate nitrate levels, but because nitrate continues to be introduced in the
watershed at high levels, staff was left with no alternative but to activate the expensive denitrification facility.
Although not record levels of nitrate in the source waters, the levels experienced in the fall and early winter of 2014 were unprecedented for
that time of year. Record nitrate levels were reached in 2013, and throughout the spring and summer, Des Moines Water Works operated the
nitrate removal facility for 74 days, at approximately $900,000 in treatment costs and lost revenues passed on to ratepayers. The risks
associated with source water pollution continue to cost Des Moines Water Works customers millions of dollars in new facilities needed to remove
pollutants.
According to the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, approximately 92% of nitrate loads enter our water resources through agricultural sources
that are not currently being subject to any mandatory regulations, despite longstanding legal mandates to address such pollution.
Despite these challenges, Des Moines Water Works remains committed to producing safe, abundant,
cost-effective water you can trust for life, as well as committed to fighting for cleaner source water on
behalf of the 500,000 central Iowans Des Moines Water Works is pleased to serve.
Winter Source Water Problems
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Winter weather brings the threat of frozen pipes. If your power goes out due to downed power
lines, there is no need to immediately worry. In most cases, a home will retain enough heat
for three to five hours. It may get cold; however, as long as the temperature remains above
55ºF in your home, the pipes should not freeze.
If power is not expected to be restored within five hours, the following tips will help prevent your
pipes from freezing:
· Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the
plumbing.
· Let cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the
pipe – even at a trickle – helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the
water running through it is above freezing.
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. To safely and
effectively thaw frozen water pipes, you must first diagnose where the pipe is frozen.
· Start by turning on every faucet in the house, including the bathtub faucets. This will help
you determine the area of the blockage. If the water in the kitchen sink is frozen but the
water in the bathroom sink works, then you are probably dealing with an isolated problem.
Once you have figured out which faucet contains the frozen line, turn off all other faucets.
· Locate the main water shut-off valve, which could be located in the basement. It is important to shut off the water prior to
thawing the pipes as a pipe may already have broken under the extreme pressure caused by the frozen line.
· Now that the water is turned off, you have a few options to thaw the pipe. One is to use towels soaked in hot water. Wrap the
frozen pipe with hot, wet towels and pour on additional hot water until the pipe has completely thawed. If the hot towel approach
won't work, a hair dryer or heat gun may be the next solution. Turn on the dryer or heat gun and work up and down the length of
the frozen line. Once the water starts to thaw and trickle out of the faucet, if you are sure the blockage hasn’t caused a broken
pip, you can turn the main water supply back on. keep working with the heat source and keep the water faucet turned on until
full water pressure is restored.
If every faucet in the house is frozen, you are probably dealing with a frozen main water line that supplies water to the house. Turn on
all faucets in the sinks and bathtub and turn off the main water supply. Follow the suggestions above but apply the heat directly to the pipe
that enters the house.
Never use a heat source with an open flame, such as a blowtorch or propane heater, to thaw a frozen water line as an open flame in a
home can present a serious fire hazard as well as the possibility of exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, excessive heat from a
blowtorch applied to a frozen pipe can cause the water inside the pipe to boil and possibly explode.
If your pipes have frozen once, chances are they will freeze again. Before the onset of cold weather, prevent freezing of your water
supply lines and pipes by following these recommendations:
· Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer’s or installer’s directions.
· Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to
allow water to drain. keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without cause the pipe to
break.
· Wrap outside water pipes or water pipes located under the house or crawl spaces with an insulation material such as
newspaper or electric heat tape taking special care to cover all elbow joints, valve bodies, tees and any other fittings.
· If you are going on vacation during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
Lives and property can be saved when fire crews can access a fire
hydrant immediately. If you live close to a fire hydrant, please take
a few minutes to clear any snow that has accumulated around the
hydrant as you clear your driveway and sidewalk. If you notice a
damaged fire hydrant or accidentally damage one, please call Des
Moines Water Works at (515) 283-8700. Your call is important to fire
protection and ensuring Des Moines Water Works delivers reliable
water.
Snow and ice also present dangers to Des Moines Water Works’
field service workers, so please keep your sidewalks clear. keeping
your outside meter reading equipment free of snow and ice will ensure
accurate readings and billings.
Winter Reminders
Customers may be comfortable mailing local payments the day
before they are due without worrying whether those payments
will be received and credited to their account on time; however,
the United States Postal Service is implementing changes that will
impact mail delivery. Effective January 5, 2015, USPS will no longer
have an overnight delivery commitment for First Class mail. Customers
currently in the overnight delivery zones will move to a two-day delivery
standard.
Des Moines Water Works customers are encouraged to submit
payment with ample time for mail delivery to ensure payments are
credited to their accounts by the due date.
USPS Changes
Printed on recycled paper
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