Nitrates are back in the headlines, and Iowa’s water quality is once again under the microscope. In this Farm4Profit episode, we sit down with the CEOs of Des Moines Water Works and Central Iowa Water Works and bring in the Executive Director of the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition to talk about what’s driving rising nitrate levels, the real costs of water treatment, and how farmers, utilities, and policymakers can work together to protect both public health and agriculture’s future.
We’re joined by the CEOs of Des Moines Water Works and Central Iowa Water Works, who provide a utility perspective on what it takes to ensure clean, safe drinking water for over 600,000 residents. They explain what nitrate removal looks like in practice, why one winter alone cost more than $540,000, and how proposed new facilities could require investments of up to $183 million.
From the agricultural side, we explore the progress farmers have made in reducing erosion, improving nitrogen use efficiency (down from ~1.2 lbs per bushel in the 1990s to ~0.7 lbs or less today), and adopting conservation practices like no-till, cover crops, and prairie strips. We also look at the barriers—like cost, adoption rates, and weather extremes—that keep nitrate reductions from moving as fast as water utilities and regulators would like.
The conversation highlights the drivers of change, from climate volatility to increased corn production, and examines the broader economic context: agriculture still contributes over $53 billion to Iowa’s GDP and supports 1 in 5 jobs statewide. Any solutions must balance environmental protection with economic sustainability for farm families and rural communities.
Ultimately, this discussion is about bridging the divide. Both farmers and utilities are making major investments in infrastructure—whether that’s treatment plants or conservation practices. The question is: how do we build trust, share data, and create partnerships that deliver measurable water quality improvements while protecting Iowa’s agricultural economy and heritage?
This episode gives listeners a nuanced look at the nitrate issue beyond the headlines, showing how public health, environmental stewardship, and agricultural productivity can coexist with the right mix of science, collaboration, and leadership.