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240:, were those with private wells. In 1902, a new water gallery was begun out of large concrete rings 5 feet in diameter and 2 feet long, held slightly apart to allow water seeping in. Flooding delayed continuation until 1904 until completion in 1910. In June 1903, a flood was then said to be "the worst in history" with business suspended, hundreds became unemployed and homeless. In 1910, ponds were constructed in the park began that could augment the water supply and in 1918, a pumping station built on the park pumped water from the river into the ponds.
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In 1898, the people voted a proposal to buy the company down. In 1911, the vote passed, but Denman wouldn't sell at the price. Denman explained publicly why he could not accept the city's offer and how the city hadn't paid its water bills for several years. In 1911 the City passed an ordinance for standards of water purity. and in 1912 DMWW started adding hypochlorite and began a water testing laboratory with a chemist, a bacteriologist, and an assistant. In 1917, an outside source conducted a study on the conditions of the
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277:, about 3500 men could not pay their water bills, and Denman offered them work often for several days, laying water mains, grade park roads, inspect hydrants. Seven thousand plantings of trees and shrubs were made yearly from seedlings grown in the greenhouse. In 1942, DMWW bought 650 acres of farmland southwest of Des Moines to build an emergency reservoir, the
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are against the lawsuit and the Iowa
Drainage District Association wants to help the lawsuit. Most Iowans have supported the lawsuit, up to 71% of urban residents, but most did not think water quality was the state's most important issue. Even the Iowa Soybean Association has conceded, that more ways
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In 1920 a new pumping station at its present site began operation. In 1923, an attorney prepared a bill for the legislature to abolish the City
Councils supervision of the DMWW Board. The Board is responsible to run DMWW and the Mayor appoints Board members when vacancies occur with the City Council
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and
Raccoon Rivers, where the main pollution of the latter "was said to come from nearby privies, sewage from upstream residents, septic tanks, and a car shop in Valley Junction". In 1913, a price agreement was reached and in 1914 a vote to purchase passed. The vote to issue bonds did not pass until
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From 1872 to 1919, "there were constant complaints by the city council and newspapers". The city tried to buy the Water Works, but either could not raise the funds or could not get the votes needed. In 1897, the newspaper and city council attacked water quality "to lower the company's asking price".
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payers and operated by a Board of trustees, who are appointed by the Mayor of the city of Des Moines and approved by the city council. The Board of trustees has all the powers of the city council to run the utility, but cannot levy taxes. The Board of
Trustees hires a General Manager to operate the
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system hydrants, which could throw six streams at a time. The city demanded 10 miles of pipe within 10 months and "hydrants were placed for citizens or passersby to draw water for purposes of drinking". Pumps discharged about 2 million gallons per day (mgd). In its first year from June 1872 through
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have been using 20 percent of DMWW clean water or 12.5 million gallons of water a day. West Des Moines Water Works, which produces 70% of the water West Des Moines consumes, found in 2015 that the projected water demand would meet its plant´s production limits in 2017. Both it and Waukee consider
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and automated reading devices, about 10,000 fire hydrants and 7 water storage facilities. Maximum daily demand was 96.64 MGD in July 2012. The water pressure averages 50 psi but ranges from 35 psi to more than 100 psi depending on the location. Water towers help stabilize pressure in some zones.
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In May 2000, a 25 mgd facility, the Water
Treatment Plant at Maffitt Lake, renamed the L.D. McMullen Water Treatment Plant in 2007, began operation using five radial collector wells as its main source, and additionally also from Maffitt Reservoir. In August 2003, a monthly pump record was set at
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In
February 2017, a bill called Dismantling the Des Moines Water Works - HF 484/SF 456 was proposed to move assets and power to local municipalities. DMWW´s Bill Stowe called it "clearly retribution for our lawsuit". At the end of the legislative session in April 2017, the bill was moved to
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along the river was planned, the first of its kind in the U.S. From 1884-1885, 750 feet of a wooden gallery were constructed, and the iron filters were abolished. A small primitive dam on the
Raccoon River increased the water level near the gallery. In 1880, the name was changed to
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only approving the appointments. In 1928, Denman recommended adding a softening plant to save customers money spent on soap and wear and tear on clothes. Arguments for and against it continued with the Board voting to delay building until 1938 and further delayed by
273:, Des Moines only water tower, 110 feet high was constructed of concrete and steel, holding 2 million gallons of water. In 1931, the benefit of fluoride in preventing tooth decay opened a controversy for three decades. Between 1933 and 1935, during the
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As of 2017 DMWW assets were $ 250 million. The 2017 budget assumes $ 62 million of operating revenue and operating expenses of $ 41.6 million, capital infrastructure costs of $ 29.6 million and $ 5.3 million for debt repayment.
186:, where a stockholder-elected board of five directors appointed a president, secretary, and one member, with the exclusive rights to operate the company for 40 years. The Water Company was built on Walnut Street in
256:(DMWW). It was formed as a public utility owned by ratepayers under a new Code of Iowa, Section 388. Charles Denman, who had been running the company since 1896, became General Manager with a salary of $ 8,000.
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utility, who prepares an annual budget using revenue from the sale of water as its primary income. The Board of trustees reviews, modifies, and approves it. It is the only body which can enter into contracts.
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near the water's edge, 12 feet in diameter and 14 feet high, open at the bottom and closed at the top with perforations to let water in. The iron filters constantly plugged and after 10 years, in 1883, an
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In April 2011, the
Saylorville Water Treatment Plant began operating, serving customers north of Des Moines. First, oxidation precipitates dissolved iron and manganese in shallow groundwater.
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installed a substation at DMWW and electric motors and pumps began to be used ending steam power. In 1958, eight more filters and two more softening basins were added to the filter plant and
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which housed the laboratory and the water rate increased for the first time in 50 years. In 1950, levees around the Fleur Drive treatment plant were built. In 1959, DMWW started
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As of March 2017, the DMWW pumps water from three conditioning plants through about 1,360 miles (2,190 km) of buried water main with 9,800 valves. It maintains over 80,000
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Water is pumped inside when water demand is low and flows back out to satisfy higher demands. Des Moines is divided into four pressure zones, with dedicated pumping stations.
431:(MCL) standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and pay to remove the nitrate and in the winter of 2014/2015 DMWW spent $ 540,000 for nitrate removal. DMWW wants
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and the
Wilchinski Standpipe were built. Land for a north standpipe was purchased in 1955, but construction did not begin until 1959. In 1973, this standpipe, near Sears at
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Effective April 2017, residential customers inside Des Moines pay $ 4.11/1000 gallons of water, and residents within Polk County almost twice as much, $ 8.10. A separate
452:. In March 2017, a federal district court dismissed the DMWW claims saying the Iowa legislature was "the appropriate body to address the state's water quality crisis".
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membranes, which have smaller pores than the UF membranes and filter out dissolved material in the water, targeting calcium and magnesium ions (water hardness) and for
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to finance the 2013 Iowa
Nutrient Reduction Strategy plan (cutting the nitrogen and phosphorus by 45 percent) need to be found in light of the problem in the
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2,262.82 million gallons. In June 2006, ground was broken for a third treatment plant with a capacity of 10 mgd, the Saylorville Water Treatment Plant, using
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352:, the Raccoon River crested at a record 14.7 feet above flood stage, forcing the Fleur Drive treatment plant to be shut down and residents of the greater
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with $ 3000. B. F. Allen, helped to raise $ 250,000 and became the company's first president. The company passed to Polk & Hubbell, and in 1880 to a
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November 1918, and at that unfavorable time for the bond market, the city could not sell enough bonds, and sued for an extension of time.
400:. In July 2012, a new monthly pumpage record was set at 2,544.12 million gallons and a new record for daily pumpage at million gallons.
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392:(UF) membranes filter out particulate i.e. undissolved material in the water. Thereafter, part of the water will go through the
385:, the Raccoon River crested at 12.5 feet above flood stage, but DMWW operated normally due to levee work and flood preparation.
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was increased to a height of 31 feet. In 1998, ground was broken for a new treatment plant, called the Maffitt Treatment Plant.
281:, which was opened for fishing in 1948. In 1945, another flood and in 1947 a record-breaking flood occurred. From 1948-49, the
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with 1,300 acres of wooded land and a 200-acre lake. As of 2016 DMWW sold water wholesale to more than 20 regional entities.
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system but groundbreaking took until July 1965 and becoming fully operational in 1977. In 1972, DMWW installed
609:. Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa and Reminiscences of Early Days. Des Moines: Baker-Trisler Company. p. 9.
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to soften and purify the water. In June 2006, a daily pumpage record of 90.19 mg was set. During the
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inside the city, the rate is $ 6.59 per 1,000 gallons, outside the city it is $ 13.18 per 1,000 gallons.
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June 1873, the Water Works´ operating costs were $ 5,770 and consumers paid no city taxes for water use.
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lines exacerbate pollution by moving nutrients more quickly to waterways. DMWW must comply with the
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were without any water service for 11 days, and non-potable water for 18 days. The height of the
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on the outside of homes. In 1985, an office building was built. In 1992, the eight tanks of a
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was constructed, holding 530,000 gallons of water, used until 1931, and torn down in 1939.
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526:. DMWW also bills on behalf of the Des Moines City Council for Solid Waste Services, its
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In 1919, the city bought the water company. The company's name was changed again to
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for high nitrate discharges into the Raccoon River, and their failure to obtain a
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with high nitrate discharges, which contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.
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fee varies depending on the meter size from $ 6 to $ 75 inside the city. For
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175:´s largest water utility and among the largest 100 utilities in the country.
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Ms Diane Munns, Chairperson; Mr Ted Corrigan, interim CEO and General Manager
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to provide flood control for both the Des Moines River system, including
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In March 2015, the DMWW board sued three Iowa counties for violating the
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to abide by the Clean Water Act, which they are exempted from, because
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Water came from an iron filtering tank in the gravel and sand of the
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476:, an urban park of about 1,500 acres near downtown Des Moines, and
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In 1871, Frederick M. Hubbell and Jefferson S. Polk organized the
774:"Des Moines Water Works Case Dismissed in Federal District Court"
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unfinished business in the House and was funneled in the Senate.
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and provides water to half a million residents of the greater
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723:"Sides line up in Des Moines Water Works' nitrate lawsuit"
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across a large region. The Iowa Farm Bureau and Governor
749:"Most Iowans support water pollution lawsuit, poll says"
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aquifer after DMWW increased its rate by 10% in 2016.
826:"Suburbs could go their own way on water treatment"
681:"Water Works to proceed with lawsuit over nitrates"
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163:The Des Moines Water Works are a municipal water
148:. As of 2017, it has three treatment facilities.
55:Frederick Hubbell, Jefferson S. Polk, B. F. Allen
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417:National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
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293:its water at the request of the city council.
167:, owned by the about 500,000 residents of the
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705:"Bill would dismantle Des Moines Water Works"
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789:The Iowa Legislature, accessed 27 April 2016
236:In the early 1900s, many people who died of
202:Supply well for Des Moines Water Works, 1880
16:Water utility service for city of Des Moines
419:permit or state permit in violation of the
403:In March 2015, the DMWW board voted to sue
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659:"Saylorville Water Treatment Plant update"
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542:Section 388, the utility is owned by the
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348:removal facility were built. During the
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802:. Des Moines Water Works. March 7, 2011
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703:Elmer, MacKenzie (February 17, 2017).
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312:authorized construction of a dam at
81:Greater Des Moines Metropolitan area
839:Laura Sarcone (November 21, 2016).
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747:Donnelle Eller (26 February 2015).
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586:"Des Moines Water Works - About Us"
129:. It was founded 1871 southwest of
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644:"Des Moines Water Works History"
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847:(blog). Des Moines Water Works.
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824:Norvell, Kim (23 August 2016).
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721:Donnelle Eller (1 April 2015).
657:Gary Benjamin (March 1, 2011).
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915:Government of Des Moines, Iowa
882:. Des Moines Water Works. n.d.
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646:. Des Moines Water Works. n.d.
588:. Des Moines Water Works. n.d.
222:Des Moines Water Works Company
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841:"2017 Budget and Water Rates"
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342:water meter reading equipment
679:Ryan Smith (15 March 2015).
423:. The lawsuit contends that
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930:1871 establishments in Iowa
787:Bill history HOUSE FILE 484
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524:Equivalent Residential Unit
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800:"Des Moines Water Storage"
522:services cost $ 11.50 per
489:tapping the Raccoon River
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557:Lists of public utilities
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429:maximum contaminant level
125:with its headquarters in
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776:. WHOTV. March 17, 2017.
668:. Des Moines Water Work.
450:Gulf of Mexico dead zone
180:Des Moines Water Company
602:Andrews, L. F. (1908).
326:Army Corps of Engineers
169:greater Des Moines area
866:Des Moines Water Works
828:. Des Moines Register.
707:. Des Moines Register.
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285:was built, called the
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224:. In 1891, the first
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330:Rock Island District
306:Iowa Light and Power
296:In 1955, the Nollen
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868:. 21 November 2016.
753:Des Moines Register
727:Des Moines Register
604:"Jefferson S. Polk"
437:agricultural runoff
379:membrane technology
372:DMWW building, 2016
350:Great Flood of 1993
334:downtown Des Moines
184:joint-stock company
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935:Water and politics
859:"2017 Water Rates"
512:water availability
460:System Information
383:Iowa flood of 2008
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324:which allowed the
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121:, municipal water
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880:"Services Billed"
528:recycling program
478:Maffitt Reservoir
398:nitrate reduction
338:Mississippi River
314:Saylorville, Iowa
271:Hazen water tower
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269:. In 1929, the
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60:Headquarters
34:Company type
409:Buena Vista
226:water tower
217:groundwater
107:rate payers
77:Area served
945:Litigators
909:Categories
568:References
544:water rate
534:Governance
520:Stormwater
506:Water rate
413:Sac county
188:Des Moines
134:Des Moines
87:Key people
64:Des Moines
540:Iowa Code
298:Standpipe
260:1920–1999
232:1900–1919
551:See also
491:alluvial
310:Congress
131:downtown
96:Products
52:Founders
44:Industry
845:DSM:H2O
806:7 March
758:7 March
732:7 March
666:DSM:H2O
405:Calhoun
346:nitrate
328:of the
316:on the
238:typhoid
165:utility
159:History
123:utility
662:(Blog)
538:Under
497:Budget
486:Waukee
358:levees
190:using
862:(PDF)
607:(PDF)
192:Holly
104:Owner
47:water
808:2017
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113:The
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