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Iowa's Water Crisis: Nitrates on the Rise | Des Moines News
Iowa’s drinking water crisis is escalating: nitrate violations surged to 36 in 2025—more than double 2024’s 14—and tied with 2023’s 38 for the worst on record. Over 2,400 customers across 13 systems are now at risk as nitrates, from fertilizers and animal waste washed into rivers by heavy rains, breach EPA safety limits. The fallout? Lawn watering bans in Des Moines and serious health threats—especially for infants with blue-baby syndrome—and growing concerns about cancer risks. While some utilities install new tech or switch sources, monitoring failures and recurring violations show the…
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