South central Iowa community asked to restrict water as drought lingers across state
Drought conditions have prompted at least one south central Iowa community to impose water use restrictions.
The Osceola Water Works Board of Trustees voted Thursday to implement its water conservation ordinance that puts restrictions on the use of municipal water services except in the case of emergencies. The entire state of Iowa is experiencing at least some level of drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with 96% rated as moderate to exceptional and 67% classified as severe to exceptional.
The most arid area of Iowa classified as exceptional drought is in east central Iowa centered around Benton and Linn counties. Clarke County, where Osceola is county seat, is listed as in a severe drought.
More: Exceptional drought conditions expanding in eastern Iowa
Osceola draws its water from West Lake on the city’s northwest side. The drought-stricken lake is now more than five feet below the emergency spillway. Compounding the dilemma is increased usage from population and industrial growth.
According to the city’s consulting engineer, HDR Engineering, the safe withdrawal rate to maintain levels in West Lake is between 800,000 and 900,000 gallons a day, but current usage is at 1.4 million gallons per day.
“The Osceola Water Works Board of Trustees is concerned with lake levels and the possibility of risking access to a safe, clean water supply for our customers,” Brandon Patterson, Osceola Water Works superintendent, said in a news release. “Without considerable rain, the community has to come together to help conserve.”
The board had been holding off implementing the emergency plan in recent weeks hoping for rain, but with none coming and no precipitation in the forecast, the time for enacting the water conservation plan has come, the news release said.
Now three years into the drought, water has not flowed over the West Lake spillway since May of 2020.
“I think we will see more communities either conserving water or looking for other options because of the drought,” said Corey McCoid, supervisor of water supply operations for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
More: Iowa farmers nervous about 2023 income as harvest begins amid drought, high production costs
McCoid said the DNR is working with Osceola to explore other options for securing water supply.
While water levels have dropped, so has usage so Des Moines Water Works does not face any immediate supply issues, said Ted Corrigan, CEO and general manager.
“The Raccoon River is low, but there is still flow and we have not had to switch over to the Des Moines River,” said Corrigan.
The end of summer and outside activities bring a corresponding drop in water usage. Corrigan said Thursday’s water usage was 57 million gallons, down sharply from the 80 million gallons used earlier in the year.
The provisions of the conservation measures put in place at Osceola are:
Outside water use except for fire and health hazard prevention is prohibited.
All commercial and industrial uses of water not essential in providing products or services is prohibited.
Water use not necessary for the preservation of life, or the general welfare of the community is prohibited.
Water reclaimed or recycled after some primary use, such as water that has been used for washing or cooling, may be used without restriction. Additionally, water derived from sources other than the Osceola Water Plant may be used without restriction.
Kevin Baskins covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at kbaskins@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Osceola asked to restrict water as drought lingers across Iowa
