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

January2015:JanFeb2015 12/18/2014 10:32 AM Page 1

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

January2015:JanFeb2015 12/18/2014 10:32 AM Page 2