Counties Targeted in Des Moines Water Works Lawsuit Respond

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The three rural Iowa counties targeted in a federal lawsuit by a Des Moines water utility have filed a response denying that they contribute to high nitrate levels in rivers.

The Des Moines Register reports that Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac counties submitted the response on May 22.

The lawsuit filed earlier this year says the three counties should be required to obtain federal water pollution discharge permits because they release nitrate pollutants into rivers much like regulated factories. The nitrate comes from fertilizer and manure from 1.2 million hogs and a million turkeys that is spread on the fields in the counties.

Water Works also seeks $900,000 it spent in 2013 and $540,000 this year to operate an expensive treatment system to remove nitrates from water.