DES MOINES, Iowa — Polk County leaders have announced a plan to fund Iowa's water quality monitors, stepping in after state lawmakers cut $500,000 in funding for the program in 2023, which would have led to many critical river monitors going offline next summer. These monitors are crucial as they record nitrate levels, which reached record highs last summer, affecting over half a million metro water customers who had to reduce water usage.

The Polk County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to provide $200,000 to help maintain a network of water quality sensors in rivers and streams across Iowa.

Polk County supervisors voted Tuesday to invest $200,000 to keep water quality monitors functioning across the state — a move officials said they hope other counties will mirror. The funding will help a University of Iowa-headed monitoring system that was set to end in summer 2026 due to a lapse in funding. Polk County officials said the data provided by the system is “vital” to the state as it implements different practices to improve water quality.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Polk County announces a pivotal investment aimed at continuing crucial water quality monitoring across Iowa. In recent years, federal and state budget reductions have threatened to pause a decade of essential research, disrupting the vital monitoring and real-time data collection critical to preserving our water sources. This $200,000 investment highlights Polk County's unwavering commitment to enhancing water quality for both our community and the entire state.

POLK COUNTY, Iowa (KCCI) - Polk County Board Chair Matt McCoy says accurate water quality data isn’t just important; it’s essential. That’s why Polk County pledged to allocate $200,000 to Iowa’s Water Quality Information System (IWQIS) Tuesday morning.

DES MOINES, Iowa — After a historic summer of lawn-watering bans and high nitrate levels, central Iowa officials are taking steps to continue research for keeping water safe. Polk County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $200,000 investment to help keep 60 Iowa water quality monitors in operation. Those are all across the state in rivers and streams.

Threatened by federal and state budget reductions, Polk County is committing funding to help keep a state water quality monitoring system afloat amid continued concerns over the quality of central Iowa's water.

Linn County has joined with University of Iowa researchers to conduct studies of surface water and underground aquifers in the county. At an estimated price tag of $130,000, it’s a bargain, given the importance of the information it will provide. The studies include an aquifer vulnerability map, a contaminant plume map and a surface water sampling assessment to be completed in collaboration with UI researchers through Sept. 30, 2026.

University of Iowa researchers have reported a key advance in the ease of flow and maneuverability for underwater vehicles. In a new study, the research team outfitted the wings of an underwater hydrofoil with a series of coiled spires that, when activated, would unspool, reducing drag and creating more lift for the craft as water current was moved around it.

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - Flood specialists in Iowa are investing in enhanced monitoring technology for Northwest Iowa following the devastating 2024 floods. The Iowa Flood Center, based at the University of Iowa, is set to receive $1.75 million in disaster supplement funding from FEMA to install new equipment across Northwest Iowa. The funding aims to enhance monitoring and flood forecasting systems, enabling Iowans to better prepare for future floods.