A new IIHR research initiative aims to develop a forecasting and early-warning system for nitrate in Iowa rivers and streams.

A NASA-funded project at the University of Iowa’s IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering is developing artificial intelligence to forecast nitrate levels in untreated drinking water, using years of water records and satellite data.

The 2025 public water system compliance report came out in early July. The state natural resources department and a leading water expert point out the bigger picture on Iowa’s public water systems.

A brief dry period and peaking crop growth are driving a temporary decline in central Iowa’s nitrate concentrations, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering Director Larry Weber told Local 5.

Linn County residents will benefit from improved water quality monitoring thanks to a $100,000 investment from the Linn County Conservation Board. The funding, provided through the voter-approved Linn County Water Quality and Land Legacy bonds, will support the water quality sensor network operated by IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering (IIHR) at the University of Iowa.

While nitrate levels are stabilizing across central Iowa for now, a new effort at IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering at the University of Iowa is underway to both detect and forecast nitrate levels along Iowa waterways.

The Linn County Board of Conservation has directed $100,000 toward equipment for IIHR’s statewide water quality monitoring program as part of a broader allocation of bond dollars.

In Iowa’s competitive governor’s race, farmers are raising longstanding concerns over water quality and agriculture's role in ultimately reducing the state’s cancer rates.

Many Iowa homeowners are concerned about their health and are looking into reverse osmosis to filter out contaminants such as nitrate.

The system will be developed over a three-year timeline, featuring two products that can make predictions ranging from one day ahead of time to eight weeks.