Branstad: Water Works should 'tone down' criticism of ag pollution

Gov. Terry Branstad warned Tuesday that the Des Moines Water Works is hurting its ability to get state financial help and support because of its repeated objections to polluted water linked to chemicals from agricultural runoff.

"The Des Moines Water Works ought to just tone it down and start cooperating and working with others, like Cedar Rapids is doing, and other communities in the state of Iowa," Branstad said.

Graham Gillette, chairman of the Des Moines Water Works Board of Trustees, responded that he would like nothing more than to work with Branstad to help resolve the water pollution issue. But he said the Republican governor has refused offers to meet with Water Works officials, and that Branstad's chief of staff, Matt Hinch, declined to have further meetings after one meeting was held.

Gillette said he was surprised at Branstad's "hurtful and derogatory rhetoric." He added, "There is no one in a better situation to help with the water situation in the state than the governor, and I am just baffled why he is not interested in even participating in the conversation."

The governor was asked by a reporter if state government would provide state funding or work to obtain federal money to try to mitigate the impact of 10 percent increases in water rates faced by Des Moines Water Works customers. The rate hikes will cover general operations and maintenance costs, including electricity, chemicals and the nitrate removal process for treating water.

The water utility, which serves 500,000 customers in central Iowa, says it has spent more than $1.5 million since December to remove nitrates to keep water within safe drinking limits. The utility is suing three upstream counties, claiming farm drainage tiles contribute to high nitrate levels.

"I think we in the state of Iowa want clean water and we want to do everything we can," Branstad said. "We have a nutrient reduction strategy. We are working on a cooperative and collaborative basis.

"If they want to cooperate and work with us, they are much more likely to get assistance and support. If they are continuing to sue and attack other people, that is not doing to get them the kind of assistance and support they would like to have."

The governor contended Des Moines Water Works has "alienated a lot of people in the Legislature and elsewhere," and he suggested that filing lawsuits and offering criticism is the wrong approach.

Gillette said Water Works officials have met with Iowa's farm community, including a recent meeting that included the Iowa Farm Bureau, the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Soybean Association and Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. Branstad was invited, but he didn't show up, and he didn't send a staff person, either, Gillette said.

Gillette also noted that a new group created by the Iowa Farm Bureau — the Iowa Partnership for Clean Water — is critical of the Des Moines Water Works' federal lawsuit against the three rural counties.

The Des Moines Water Works draws some water from the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, both of which have had nitrate levels above the 10 milligrams per liter allowed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recent months.

Water Works Chief Executive Officer Bill Stowe says he's preparing plans that include spending up to $183 million for new nitrate removal equipment that can keep up with higher levels coming from farms.

Ag leaders have encouraged growers to adopt more conservation practices outlined under the voluntary Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy to keep nitrogen and other nutrients on farm fields, where crops need them. The state provided $9.6 million in the last legislative session for conservation and water quality initiatives.

The Des Moines utility is suing Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac counties in U.S. District Court, claiming drainage districts there act as conduits for nitrates to move from farm fields into the Raccoon River.

The utility seeks federal oversight of the drainage districts, and indirectly farmers, under the Clean Water Act. Attorneys for the counties have denied the field tiles are contributing to Des Moines' nitrate problems. They seek to have the lawsuit dismissed.

State Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, said Tuesday he wants to remind Branstad that he is governor of all of Iowa, including all 500,000 Water Works customers. He noted that Water Works is preparing plans that include spending up to $183 million for new nitrate removal equipment that can keep up with higher levels coming from farms.

"I would tell the governor, 'Put your money where your mouth is and step up with the funding to reimburse the consumers for these increased costs to remove these nitrates and you will probably get your lawsuit resolved and probably get more cooperation and satisfaction,'" McCoy said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.