THINK DOWNSTREAM

News & Updates from

Des Moines Water Works

SEPTEMBER 2017

2201 George Flagg Parkway | Des Moines, IA 50321 | (515) 283-8700 | www.dmww.com | | dsmh2o.com

The metro’s newest recreational area is open for outdoor

enthusiasts. In August, Des Moines Water Works, along with

Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the City of West Des

Moines and the Friends of Walnut Woods State Park held a grand

opening of Purple Martin Lake Water Resource Area, located off

Army Post Road, southwest of Walnut Woods State Park.

Purple Martin Lake Water Resource Area was a former sand, rock

and gravel quarry that now serves dual purposes as a future drinking

water source for Des Moines Water Works customers and

recreational use. The area will offer hiking, jogging and walking,

along with all non-motor recreation on the water, similar to Des

Moines Water Works’ Maffitt Reservoir.

“The former quarry provides an operational benefit to Des Moines

Water Works’ ability to produce safe, affordable and abundant

drinking water to 500,000 central Iowans; however, it was

recognized early on the inherent recreational benefits of the property,” said Bill Stowe, CEO and General Manager, Des Moines

Water Works.

In 2015, Des Moines Water Works purchased a series of water bodies along the south side of the Raccoon River, east of the

L.D. McMullen Water Treatment Plant. Long term plans will connect all of the water bodies in a series to form a “Chain of

Lakes,” which will be capable of providing up to 15 million gallons per day of low-nitrate water supply.

Through an agreement with Des Moines Water Works, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will manage Purple Martin

Lake Water Resource Area and the area surrounding the lake as an extension of DNR’s neighboring Walnut Woods State Park.

“Des Moines Water Works appreciates the initiative and dedication of Iowa DNR staff, and particularly Walnut Woods Park

Manager, Tim Gedler, to manage the property as an extension of Walnut Woods State Park. This partnership is consistent with

Des Moines Water Works’ goal of stewardship of public land, and will additionally provide an opportunity to highlight the story of

water,” said Stowe.

The area is named after the Purple Martin bird species and has several Purple Martin birdhouses and an area for visitors to view

the birds. The Purple Martin is the largest North American swallow but their populations are undergoing long-term declines in

many parts of North America. Purple Martins rely almost entirely on human-supplied housing and Iowa DNR had grant money

for the installation of a number of Purple Martin houses.

The area will be open daily from 6:00 am-10:30 pm. For directions to Purple Martin Lake, visit:

www.dmww.com/about-us/news-releases.

Purple Martin Lake Water

Resource Area Now Open

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Though Des Moines Water Works has successfully supplied safe, abundant and affordable drinking water to central Iowans

for almost 100 years, the associated planning, production, distribution, monitoring and challenges are not common

knowledge among most citizens. As water quality is on the minds of many Iowans, Des Moines Water Works launched a

Citizen Water Academy of Central Iowa in an effort to engage the public in more detail about the evolution of drinking water and

understand plans for the future that meet the growing needs of our community.

The Citizen Water Academy is designed to help current and emerging leaders in our community learn and appreciate our most

important natural resource, the water we depend on for life. The inaugural class has been selected and will begin instruction this

fall. Participants include county, city, neighborhood, business and civic leaders from Des Moines and surrounding communities.

Participants will receive 16 hours of instruction, tour multiple treatment plants operated by Des Moines Water Works, listen to

soil and water experts, and interact with Des Moines Water Works staff over the course of the program. It is the goal that

participants come away from the Citizen Water Academy with a better understanding of their local water utility, and are

equipped to help lead the debate on important water issues now and in the future. Opportunities for additional Citizen Water

Academy sessions will be announced at a later date.

Citizen Water Academy

Des Moines Water Works Fleur Drive Treatment Plant has the option of

three different sources of raw water. The first and best source is a

shallow groundwater collection system called the infiltration gallery.

The gallery system is a three-mile long, porous pipe constructed with

concrete rings. The gallery runs parallel to the Raccoon River in Water

Works Park from 63rd Street to Fleur Drive. It collects naturally-filtered water

from the sand and gravel of the river valley. The concrete rings are five feet

in diameter and two feet long and are held slightly apart so water can trickle

into the pipe. The ponds in Water Works Park, most visibly used for fishing,

were constructed to help super saturate the soil along the gallery system.

The gallery system at Des Moines Water Works dates back to 1884, when

the first 250 feet was constructed. The gallery system provided all the water

to the Des Moines area until 1949. Increased water demand required

construction of an intake on the Raccoon River in 1949, and the drought of 1977 precipitated construction of an intake on the

Des Moines River in 1980. Today, the infiltration gallery system often provides the first 20 million gallons of water each day

before treatment at the Fleur Drive Treatment Plant.

Des Moines Water Works selects its best source of water each day, and sometimes that source can change throughout the day

due to water quality and the ability to treat different contaminants present in the source water. The infiltration gallery system

continues to be our best source of water due to the quality and the cost effectiveness of natural filtration.

Underground Gallery System

Construction of the infiltration gallery system.

Des Moines Water Works is committed to delivering safe, affordable and abundant drinking water to our customers. Safe

drinking water is treated water that has been tested for harmful and potentially harmful substances and has met or

exceeded drinking water quality standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State

of Iowa. The EPA sets drinking water standards to define the limits of contaminants considered safe for drinking water. These

levels are based on studies of the health effects associated with each contaminant and include a sufficient safety margin to

ensure that water meeting these standards is safe for nearly everyone to drink.

The Consumer Confidence Report is an annual water quality report that helps customers understand the quality and safety of

tap water provided by Des Moines Water Works. The current Consumer Confidence Report is now available at:

www.dmww.com/upl/documents/library/2017ccr.pdf. If you would like a printed copy of the Consumer Confidence Report

mailed to you or have any questions about your drinking water, please contact a Customer Service Representative at

(515) 283-8700.

Annual Water Quality Report

Printed on recycled paper

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