WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Central Iowa Water Works announced in a press conference on Friday that it will be loosening the lawn watering ban that has been in place for over a month.
Executive Director of CIWW Tami Madsen said that the decision comes after nitrate levels in the infiltration gallery have declined under 10 mg/L over the past several days.
Officials said the easing of restrictions will begin on Tuesday and will follow an evens, odds approach for residential properties. Those with an even address can water their lawns on Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday, and those with an odd address can water on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday.
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In June, CIWW enacted the first-ever ban on lawn watering for its customers after nitrates reached near record levels in the rivers. CIWW said the ban was necessary, as water treatment plants struggled to produce enough water that met the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) water safety standard of a maximum of 10 mg/L of nitrates…