Iowa Utility Eyes Suit Challenging Efficacy Of Voluntary Nutrient Reductions

An Iowa drinking water utility is seeking to subject several agricultural drainage districts to Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting requirements, challenging the efficacy of farms' voluntary nutrient reduction efforts and raising novel arguments that, if successful, could narrow the CWA's agricultural stormwater exemption. The Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) says in a Jan. 9 notice of intent (NOI) to sue more than a dozen drainage districts that despite regular nitrate treatment processes, the Raccoon River saw record high levels of...