City of Des Moines, IA
09/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2026 08:08
Community Leaders Coordinate Conversation About Water Quality
Des Moines, Iowa - Wednesday, September 30, 2026 - Water quality continues to be an important topic of conversation across central Iowa. Local and regional experts will join to give Des Moines residents an opportunity to learn more about their drinking water and water quality.
- Date: Tuesday, October 6
- Time: 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Des Moines Central Library (1000 Grand Avenue)
Tapped In: Understanding Water In Central Iowa isa community conversation led by Des Moines Water Works and facilitated by the City of Des Moines that will discuss how experts in the region are working together to manage and protect our water and what everyone should know about water quality now and into the future.
"Protecting public health is at the heart of everything we do at Des Moines Water Works," said Amy Kahler, CEO and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works. "Our responsibility goes beyond delivering clean, reliable water every day. It also means helping our customers understand where their water comes from, the challenges facing our source waters and the work our experts do around the clock to protect water quality. Conversations like this give us an important opportunity to share that expertise, answer questions and help our community better understand the water we all depend on."This community conversation will be held at the Des Moines Central Library (1000 Grand Ave.) in downtown Des Moines on Tuesday, October 6 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
"Our residents deserve clean, safe, and reliable water and they deserve clear information about it," Mayor Connie Boesen said. "This meeting represents a chance for residents to learn more about our water system from the experts who operate it and understand what current research says about our water supply and the future of protecting water here in central Iowa."Kahler will discuss water treatment, the nitrate removal and testing process, and monitoring of central Iowa source waters.
Residents also will hear directly from others who manage, study, and advocate for water quality in central Iowa. Speeches and discussion will include presentations from the following:
- Des Moines Public Works: Director Jonathan Gano will share about nutrient removal from wastewater processed by the Wastewater Reclamation Facility and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy's imposition of mandatory reductions.
- Drake University: Professor of Environmental Science Claire Hruby, a scientific adviser to the Central Iowa Source Water Research Assessment, will present on water quality monitoring and what the data shows about our water system.
- The Harkin Institute for Public Policy: Senior Fellow John Norris will discuss policy recommendations for reducing contaminants in Iowa waterways.
- Iowa Environmental Council: Executive Director Sarah Green will explore the causes of water quality issues and what you can do to get involved in your community to help improve water quality.
Following the presentations, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss water quality issues with the panel of experts.
Contact
Peter Zemansky
Communications Manager, City Manager's Office
(515) 210-6586
[email protected]
About the City of Des Moines
The City of Des Moines is Iowa's capital city and our 17 departments serve more than 214,000 residents and 46 neighborhood associations. Des Moines is a leader in sustainability and provides its residents with vibrant neighborhoods, an alive and active downtown, and abundant leisure opportunities.
Des Moines continuously improves neighborhoods, public safety and quality of life by offering exceptional city services and reliable infrastructure while fostering an involved and compassionate community for all who visit and live in Des Moines.
City of Des Moines, IA published this content on September 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 30, 2026 at 14:08 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]