The nitrate removal facility of Central Iowa Water Works has been running for 107 days so far this year. The facility activates when nitrate levels elevate in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, the two main sources for drinking water in central Iowa. In recent years, the levels have trended upward, says David Cwiertny, a professor at the University of Iowa.

As a new flood season approaches, many Americans remain haunted by the last. But Iowans are fortunate — we have access to the incredible tools developed and maintained by engineers at the state-funded Iowa Flood Center.

It’s extremely important for Iowans to have the best possible data measuring the amount of nitrate in our drinking water. If the Iowa Legislature does not restore funding for IIHR’s water quality sensor network, many of the sensors may need to be removed or discontinued, putting Iowans at risk.

Three Iowa farmers share their opinion on why the Iowa Water Quality Information System (IWQIS), a network of real-time sensors that measure nitrate and other indicators in streams across Iowa, is essential for Iowans and the state.

On April 14 and 15, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering hosted two days of learning for Muscatine fifth graders at the Lucille A. Carver Mississippi Riverside Environmental Research Station.

Humberto Vergara has long dreamed of bringing reliable flash flood forecasting to countries around the world. Now he and his team are beginning to make that a reality, thanks to a major grant from the World Meteorological Organization.

IIHR Director Larry Weber says that as nitrate levels continue to rise and pressure on water systems increases, he feels the responsibility of collecting and sharing water quality data weighs heavily on him in his role as a scientist and a public employee.

University of Iowa and IIHR researcher David Cwiertny and his team are using a $124,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to expand “Get the Lead Out,” a statewide program that tests for lead in drinking water.

The devastating Iowa Flood of 2008 did more than damage homes and infrastructure — it fundamentally changed how Iowa approaches water, sparking a wave of conservation efforts, research and long-term monitoring that continues to shape local programs today.

Geologists, ecologists, and many other experts understand our natural systems and how they operate. We need to bring their understanding into discussions about water quality and other environmental concerns to achieve better outcomes.