Welcome to the Iowa Water Quality Information System. IWQIS allows access to real-time water quality data and information, such as nitrate, pH, and dissolved oxygen concentrations, discharge rates, and temperature.
About IWQIS
IWQIS integrates data gathered by IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Geological Survey and offers access to real-time nutrient data on a range of water-related information, such as precipitation, stream flow, and soil moisture. Our goal is to help researchers, agencies, and landowners directly monitor the impact of land-use strategies/changes on downstream water quality; enable watershed stakeholders to understand the fate and transport of nutrients in Iowa’s waterways; and help the state monitor the success of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
Background of IWQIS
IWQIS Overview
Over the last decade, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering at the University of Iowa has developed a network of real-time, in-situ sensors that measure nitrate, turbidity, and a handful of other parameters at nearly 50 sites across the state. Monitoring sites include major rivers leaving the state, smaller tributaries, springs, and edge-of-field nutrient reduction practices. These data are displayed directly on the Iowa Water Quality Information System (IWQIS), along with readouts from 19 U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Geological Survey sensors in the state. These real-time data, reported every 15 minutes, allow IWQIS users to assess the state of Iowa’s waters in real time. Continuous monitoring values capture dynamic events occurring in between grab samples. Color coding of the results makes it straightforward to quickly assess the overall state of Iowa’s waters; clicking on a site yields more detailed information. In addition, the nitrate sensors’ real-time measurements allow researchers to better understand how nitrate concentrations respond during large precipitation events.
The Importance of Monitoring
Nitrate in Iowa’s surface waters has been of increasing concern. Waters leaving Iowa contribute a disproportionate amount of the overall load of nitrogen leading to hypoxia (low oxygen) in the Gulf of Mexico.
Many researchers believe that long-term exposure to water with nitrate concentrations below the EPA standard may lead to negative health effects. And as the state continues to invest in voluntary programs to reduce nutrient loading to Iowa’s surface waters, it is important to maintain monitoring capabilities to assess the effectiveness of those efforts.
Funding Information
The monitoring network was defunded by the state legislature in 2023. Bridge funding from the Walton Family Foundation enabled IIHR to continue its monitoring efforts following the loss of state support. Today, the network is funded through contributions from several Iowa counties and municipalities, along with donations from private citizens, as IIHR continues to pursue a long-term funding solution and advocate for the restoration of state funding.