AMES, Iowa — At Iowa State University, Dr. Santanu Bakshi is working on a slow-release fertilizer that could help decrease nitrate concentrations in Iowa’s water sources.
Farming’s impact on drinking water
Agriculture is big business in Iowa, ranking No. 1 in several areas of exports and production. As farmers meet increased demand, high levels of nitrates from our state’s farms are ending up in the water supply.
“80% of the nitrates in central Iowa waterways are coming from agriculture,” said Adam Shriver, the Director of Wellness and Nutrition at The Harkin Institute.
Des Moines saw multiple days this year where water sources exceeded the EPA’s standard of 10 mg/L for nitrate concentration— but Shriver says new research links levels even lower than that to health problems…