Ankeny water ban

[DSMCy]

We're trying to do our part, but to clarify, the notice seems to specify "lawn watering".

We planted a bunch of new trees this year. Seems like I'm good to continue watering those?
Similarly, just got our garden planted. Can we continue watering those plants?

How are others with new trees and/or gardens going to handle this?

 

[ClonerJams]

I'm assuming this doesn't apply to plants and flowers? I still plan on reducing the amount I water those but wasn't sure if this applied to those as well

 

[Letterkenny]

I'm just surprised the water demand is that high right now. We had rain like 10 days ago. Compared to the end of last summer when it didn't rain for like 2 months and this never became an issue.

 

[Turn2]

In fairness to those folks they may not even be aware of this yet as the news is less than 24 hours old. Wednesday they asked people to cut back on watering, warning that if they don't they will have to ban watering altogether. Then just one day later they banned it. It'll take some time for the news to filter out and some will miss it entirely.

Anyone who gets a water bill should have gotten an email from the city yesterday.

 

[Turn2]

I'm just surprised the water demand is that high right now. We had rain like 10 days ago. Compared to the end of last summer when it didn't rain for like 2 months and this never became an issue.

It's common practice for commercial properties to turn on the water in May and let 'er rip right into fall, needed or not. Same with athletic fields and golf courses.

 

[FarmerCy1]

Maybe I'm just an ******* (hint: I am), but anyone know if you can rat people out? Let's just say there are a few neighbors in my neighborhood I don't care for and I noticed they were watering this AM....

Call the city water works. I saw where DSM water works has a snitch line

 

[cycloneworld]

Don’t want to cave this, but as far as actual total mass load of nitrate, all of our residential lawns are small potatoes compared to the millions of acres of tile drained crop land in Iowa. Urbanization certainly increases water use (and causes stormwater management issues) and lawns and golf courses have high amounts of fertilizer applied, but the sheer amount of crop land far outweighs that.

Who would have thought that spraying hog **** on millions of acres of land would cause problems...if only someone would have identified this problem decades ago.

We are going to ban water users but continue the same practices that continues to put us in this situation.

 

[Letterkenny]

Des Moines Water Works has set up a dedicated phone line to report violations: 515-323-6247.

No one likes a rat.

 

[NoCreativity]

I'm just surprised the water demand is that high right now. We had rain like 10 days ago. Compared to the end of last summer when it didn't rain for like 2 months and this never became an issue.

I dont think the total amount of water is the problem. They are letting out healthy amounts from Saylorville right now. I think the main issue is nitrates are so high the treatment plants are having issues keeping up with those levels to deliver suitable water.

 

[KCClone1]

I didn’t know this was a thing/there were issues, but why would someone be watering their lawn now anyway? The grass is growing/staying perfectly green on its own…

Agreed. I never water and have to mow at least once a week this time of year. If I watered I’d have to mow every few days.

 

[CyDegen]

Maybe I'm just an ******* (hint: I am), but anyone know if you can rat people out? Let's just say there are a few neighbors in my neighborhood I don't care for and I noticed they were watering this AM....

Des Moines Water Works has set up a dedicated phone line to report violations: 515-323-6247.

Anyone calling the authorities over watering your lawn needs a reality check.

 

[DSMCy]

DM Water says they’ll warn you, then shut off your water

From the email they sent yesterday:
Enforcement: If Des Moines Water Works observes someone watering their lawn, they will receive a notice tagged at their property to immediately cease lawn watering. That tag will notify them that if they don’t comply, water service will be shut off in 48 hours.

Report violations: [email protected] or 515-323-6247 for issues in Des Moines. Other communities will have their own reporting methods. Des Moines Water Works staff will investigate complaints as they come in.

 

[Trice]

Anyone who gets a water bill should have gotten an email from the city yesterday.

I'm aware. But some people don't check theirs, or it goes to spam, or they're traveling, or any number of other perfectly reasonable explanations for why they might not be in compliance less than 24 hours after the announcement was made.

Not excusing everyone, of course. Some will know better and ignore it anyway.

 

[NorthCyd]

I dont think the total amount of water is the problem. They are letting out healthy amounts from Saylorville right now. I think the main issue is nitrates are so high the treatment plants are having issues keeping up with those levels to deliver suitable water.

This is it. It doesn't have much to do with demand. Nitrates in the raccoon are almost double the allowed limits in drinking water right now which is a lot for the treatment system.

 

[AgronAlum]

I'm just surprised the water demand is that high right now. We had rain like 10 days ago. Compared to the end of last summer when it didn't rain for like 2 months and this never became an issue.

I don't think its increased demand specifically. It's the nitrate levels being at near records and the length of time the nitrate removal plant has been running at full capacity.

 

[DSMCy]

Anyone calling authorities over water your lawn needs a reality check.

Yep let’s all boil our drinking water so we can keep our grass green.

 

[CyDegen]

Yep let’s all boil our drinking water so we can keep our grass green.

We are no where close to needing to boil our drinking water. Boiling water does not remove nitrates regardless

 

[Sigmapolis]

I don't have a sprinkler system but the City of Waukee keeps pounding me with "save water!" emails.

 

[houjix]

WDMWW sent out a notification at 2 am on Thursday morning about voluntary reduction and by mid-afternoon it had switched to an all out ban.

 

[NWICY]

I'm just surprised the water demand is that high right now. We had rain like 10 days ago. Compared to the end of last summer when it didn't rain for like 2 months and this never became an issue.

I'm not sure if demand is higher than usual, but the rivers are up from this spring when the rivers go up the nitrate levels go up it seems.