Tomorrow (Sunday) marks the first day of Source Water Protection Week, and officials are encouraging all Iowans to do their part to protect the state’s drinking water. Source Water Protection Week runs Sept. 27 through Oct. 3 and features highlights, tips, and programs focused on drinking water safety. The Iowa Source Water Protection Program and Iowa Source Water Agricultural Collaborative are highlighting federal conservation assistance available in priority watersheds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers eligible producers and landowners financial and technical help for voluntary practices that reduce nutrient runoff, improve soil health, and protect surface water and groundwater. Some qualifying practices in priority areas may receive as much as 75 percent federal cost-share. Officials also are encouraging private well owners to test and maintain their water supplies. Unlike public drinking water systems, regulators do not routinely monitor private wells, leaving owners responsible for checking water quality. Iowa’s Private Well Grants Program helps eligible residents pay for water testing, repairs or reconstruction, and closing unused wells that could allow contaminants into groundwater. Well owners should contact their county environmental public health office to ask whether their county participates and what assistance is available. More information about source water protection is included with this story on our website.
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