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News Brief

April 7, 2025

Iowa is nearing the top of the list nationally for contaminates in the water

According to standards set in the federal Clean Water Act, seventy percent of Iowa's lakes, rivers, and streams are polluted and not usable for recreation and fishing. EPA director Lee Zeldin has eliminated more than two-dozen environmental regulations, including those in the Clean Water Act. University of Iowa's David Cwiertny directs the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination. He says Iowa is near the top of the list nationally for the number of waterways contaminated by nitrates and bacteria, and adds weakening regulations will make matters worse.

"You know it's not going to certainly conclude the situation in Iowa. There's a growing number of folks that would like to be able to trust their water sources and have reliable water resources for recreation, quality of lide is tied to that, and public safety when it comes to public drinking supplies."

Cwiertny says while reducing nitrate pollution is important, he argues there are other critical factors that need attention.

"I wish we would expand the conversation on water quality in Iowa beyond nutrients to think about things like bacteria, which to me is a clear indicator that we struggle with things like manure runoff." says Cwiertny. 

The American Farm Bureau says it is pleased with the Clearn Water Act rollbacks because they will allow ag producers to "grow the food Americans rely on."