Des Moines Water Works

Join us at Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival today and Sunday at Western Gateway Park. Visit Des Moines Water Works' booth for a reusable water bottle. Find our mobile water station and fill, drink & repeat!

The eastern side of Des Moines Water Works Park is closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for a ticketed music festival. Fleur Drive remains open, but traffic is expected to be slow.

Thanks to our community members who stopped by our booth at Welcoming Week! We enjoyed sharing information about Des Moines Water Works and the clean, reliable water we make for you each day.

You can find us this weekend at our booth at Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival on Saturday and Sunday. We’ll have reusable water bottles (while supplies last) but you can also bring your own and fill up at one of two water stations at the festival.

Join us and our other partners tonight for Free Community Meal and Resource Fair at the Northwest Community Center.

4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Find our booth for a free reusable water bottle (while supplies last) and fill up from our mobile water station with freshly made tap water!

Join us tonight for a Welcoming Week event - a free community meal and resource fair. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave., in Des Moines. Grab a reusable water bottle from our booth and fill up from our mobile water station!

https://www.facebook.com/events/829226532691608/

Just a reminder that the road in Des Moines Water Works Park north of the amphitheater is closed, likely until Monday, in preparation for and during Knotfest.

There will be multiple other closures in the coming days. This map shows how you can visit the park through Friday.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, the trail that runs from Gray’s Lake through the Ruan Connector into Des Moines Water Works Park will close. In addition, there will be no pedestrian access into eastern areas of the park that are fenced off except for those attending the music festival.

You may still access Des Moines Water Works General Office from George Flagg Parkway during our business hours.

Des Moines Water Works is working with a contractor to conduct maintenance to the Maffitt Reservoir Dam, near the L.D. McMullen Water Treatment Plant.

The reservoir was built in the 1940s as a backup water supply in response to the 1930s drought. Its water also is used in times of poor source water quality to ensure ample production of finished water that meets all standards for drinking. DMWW is currently refilling the reservoir to replenish the water that was used earlier this year.

As you scroll through these photos, note the image from the 1940s that shows construction of the dam.

Roads within Des Moines Water Works Park are closed through Sunday in preparation for a concert event this weekend. Portions of the park will be closed, as well, but the west and east areas will remain open to the public all week. Traffic may be slow in the area.

Please note that you may still access Des Moines Water Works General Office from George Flagg Parkway.

Happy Welcoming Week from Des Moines Water Works!

Our CEO & General Manager Ted Corrigan, pictured on the left, attended the reading of the proclamation from the Polk County Iowa Supervisors designating Sept. 13-22 as Welcoming Week in our community.

Join us for the Free Community Meal and Resource Fair from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave., in Des Moines. We will provide reusable water bottles and our mobile water station for freshly made tap water. Stop by our booth to learn how we make clean, reliable water each day for our community.

It's officially the start of Welcoming Week! Wondering what Welcoming Week is all about? It's a special time set aside to bring people together, fostering strong connections and highlighting the importance of welcoming and belonging in our communities where we live, work, and play.

The Polk County Board of Supervisors has designated September 13 through September 22 as Welcoming Week in Polk County. Be sure to join us for our Free Community Meal and Resource Fair on Thursday, September 19, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Northwest Community Center as part of the celebrations. A big thank you to our partnering sponsors: Des Moines Water Works Creative Visions Iowa Juneteenth and KADI - Knock and Drop Iowa for helping us bring this event to life for our community.

Des Moines Water Works has raised the flashboards on the low-head dam on the Raccoon River because of low river levels.

Boaters (kayakers and canoeists) must be aware of this low-head dam and the portage trail around it. Signs in Des Moines Water Works Park are posted to warn of this and for boater safety. Raising the flashboards will increase the water level by three feet at the dam.

The flashboards, which are large gates, raise water levels in the area around the intake to the Fleur Drive Treatment Plant. The intake is the location where water is drawn into the treatment plant from the river. The water held back by the flashboards also helps to replenish the water in the gallery system, an underground water system that runs alongside the river.

Thanks to our Central Iowa Water Works partner agencies for touring the L.D. McMullen Water Treatment Plant.

Des Moines Water Works Director of Water Production Nathan Casey led the tour, explaining how water is treated at the plant and showing the aquifer storage recovery well that is on site. The McMullen Water Treatment Plant is a 25 million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant. Its main water source is shallow groundwater collected from radial collector wells along the Raccoon River. This plant uses a conventional lime softening treatment process.

Central Iowa Water Works is a regional authority, officially founded in April 2024, that joins 12 central Iowa communities, drinking water utilities and rural water providers. Its members are the communities of Ankeny, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Polk City and Waukee; rural water providers Xenia Rural Water District and Warren Water District; and water utilities Des Moines Water Works, Urbandale Water Utility and West Des Moines Water Works.

CIWW does not replace Des Moines Water Works or the service we provide to our customers. CIWW is responsible for drinking water treatment and water system planning for the region. Learn more: ciww.gov.

Each fall, Des Moines Water Works refills the wetland areas near our Saylorville Water Treatment Plant.

The wetland, located on land owned by the U.S. Amy Corps of Engineers but leased by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, has raw water pumped into it most of the fall season for about a month to create animal habitat. Waterfowl and deer enjoy these areas.

DMWW reminds you that water pumping out of these pipes is not treated water, and therefore, not for drinking.

Happy Labor Day from Des Moines Water Works. Our offices are closed today, but know our employees are still working to ensure you have clean, reliable water you can drink and use straight from your tap.

We will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 3. If you have a water-related emergency, please call 515-283-8700.

Today, Aug. 30, is the deadline to apply for the William G. Stowe Citizen Water Academy. There is no fee, charge or tuition to apply or attend. www.citizenwateracademy.com.

Here’s what Ken Converse, a retired higher education executive, had to say about the William G. Stowe Citizen Water Academy:

“When we moved to a neighborhood near Water Works Park, I said straight away that I wanted to tour the facility and learn about all the structures I saw as I biked through the park. Well, the William G. Stowe Citizen Water Academy of Central Iowa certainly introduced me to the physical structures of the utility and in the park, but so much more. I had no idea all the technology, science, testing, management, etc. that went into providing our community with clean drinking water. This was one of the best experiences I've had in a long time!”

Hot weather drives up energy demands, which can overload electrical grids and cause brownouts.

Des Moines Water Works has backup power sources to ensure our pumps can continue to provide you with water 24-7, which is especially necessary on the hottest of days. DMWW operates multiple generators to power our treatment plants and some pumping stations in times of power outage, but also at the request of MidAmerican Energy Co.

This week, MidAmerican Energy implemented its curtailment program, asking its large commercial and industrial users to reduce peak electrical demand. DMWW ran six emergency power sources for several hours on Monday to alleviate our use of power on the electrical grid during peak demand. DMWW benefits by being part of this volunteer curtailment program with MidAmerican Energy by being compensated to run our generators during peak demand periods.

Des Moines Water Works is also proud to report that the U.S. Department of Energy has certified our General Office Facility with the ENERGY STAR rating for the sixth straight year.

Our score is 84, meaning this building is more energy efficient that 84 percent of similar properties nationwide.

DMWW has taken steps through energy management to reduce the overall energy intensity at our treatment plants. We are the only water utility in the nation to have all our treatment plants certified to ISO 50001 and SEP 50001 Platinum, based on analysis and review by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Superior Energy Performance (SEP) group.

Our employees regularly check sensors and take readings to ensure our pumps operate efficiently. We have installed high-efficiency equipment, where possible, and have converted all indoor and outdoor lighting to LED lights. The steps we have taken have resulted in energy savings and fewer dollars spent.

The steps we have taken have resulted in energy savings and fewer dollars spent. Managing our energy use is one of the many responsibilities we have to our customers and our environment, and one way we

Each year, Des Moines Water Works hosts the William G. Stowe Citizen Water Academy to add to growing network of emerging leaders who are knowledgeable about and engaged in water issues. Apply by this Friday, Aug. 30 for the academy. There is no fee, charge or tuition to apply or attend. www.citizenwateracademy.com.

Here’s what Naura Godar, senior partner at RDG Planning & Design, had to say about the William G. Stowe Citizen Water Academy:

“I highly recommend the William G. Stowe Citizen Water Academy of Central Iowa for any resident that showers, drinks, cooks with or washes anything with tap water. Understanding not only the history of our water distribution but the expanding complexities of providing safe and reliable water is critical to be an informed consumer. Just four classes with the Academy has helped shape my actions as a homeowner and made me a proud advocate of Des Moines Water Works.”

In honor of Water and Wastewater Workers of Iowa Week, Des Moines Water Works would like to introduce you to one of our employees.

April Sauls is a Human Resources Generalist who has worked at DMWW for one year. In her role at DMWW, April is a source of knowledge, providing guidance, resources and information about initiatives to help our employees and our utility evolve.

“To be a water worker means you must be many things all at once! You must understand that you are a part of something bigger. It is to be an advocate for the sustainability of a limited natural resource, to be a protector of the health of those in our community, to be both a student and an educator. It means to be an office worker, construction worker, scientist, or engineer, among many other things. Most of all it means to be continually committed to contributing your skills toward efforts to achieve delivering safe drinking water daily” – April

Thank you to April and all of our 220 employees at Des Moines Water Works for working every day to lead and advocate to deliver Water You Can Trust For Life!

Thank you to State legislative staff and Iowa House and Senate candidates for visiting Des Moines Water Works this week.

We appreciate the opportunity to share how we provide 600,000 Central Iowans with reliable, clean drinking water every day and the increasing raw source water quality challenges we face.

Part of our role in advocating for clean source water is to provide tours and tell our story to our community and elected leaders. CEO and General Manager Ted Corrigan, along with CFO Amy Kahler, led the tour, which included a visit to DMWW’s laboratory, the most complex utility lab in the state, followed by a discussion about privately-owned lead water service lines.

DMWW is asking the State Legislature to enact legislation requiring the disclosure of a lead water service line for a residential property at time of sale to improve public health awareness and cost transparency. In addition, we're asking legislators during the 2025 session to allocate $5 million annually from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) budget for 10 years to support water utilities in leveraging forgivable federal funds to replace lead water service lines statewide to meet federal requirements and protect public health.

In honor of Water and Wastewater Workers of Iowa Week, Des Moines Water Works would like to introduce you to one of our employees.

Shad Haidsiak is a Professional Engineer who has worked in DMWW’s Engineering Department for 1 ½ years. Shad designs improvements to water distribution systems and manages these projects through construction while coordinating and communicating with multiple entities, stakeholders and the public.

“I take great pride in my efforts to contribute to and improve the efficiency and quality of water distribution systems. Having a role where I can provide service to my community, gives me a great feeling of purpose and importance.” – Shad

Thanks to Shad and all of our 220 employees at Des Moines Water Works who work every day to Deliver Water You Can Trust For Life!

Visit us today at Back 2 School Iowa’s Back2School Bash from 2-5 p.m. at the Grubb YMCA! Pick up backpacks with school supplies and a reusable bottle from Des Moines Water Works.

Des Moines Water Works’ first elevated storage tower for water was constructed in the 1890s.

By 1889, elevated storage was needed to maintain pressure for fires. Two lots were purchased fronting 17th Street between Center and Crocker streets. Construction took place during the winter of 1890 and 1891.

The Center Street Water Tower, pictured here, had 173 steps that took site-seers to the observation deck 100 feet high. The spiral copper roof added an additional 41 feet for an overall height of 141 feet. The 30-foot-diameter standpipe had a capacity of 528,000 gallons.

In 1918, visitors were no longer allowed on the observation deck. The standpipe was demolished in 1939 after the new water tower (Hazen Tower) at 48th Street and Hickman Road was in service.

Just a reminder to bring your reusable bottle to the Iowa State Fair and fill up at one of these bottle filling stations, sponsored by Des Moines Water Works and Delta Dental!

Stay hydrated and bring your reusable bottle to the Iowa State Fair! Des Moines Water Works is proud to sponsor 13 new bottle fill stations located throughout the State Fairgrounds to help keep fairgoers hydrated.

A reusable bottle filled with tap water is a great way to Think Downstream about our environment!

Find the stations in these locations:
💧4-H Exhibits Building: By the restrooms inside the main area and the lobby
💧Animal Learning Center: Between the restrooms
💧Cultural Center: North side of the building by the family restroom on all three floors
💧Elwell Family Food Center: Inside and outside between the restrooms
💧Youth Inn: North and south ends of the building on the lower level

Delta Dental has sponsored two stations inside the Varied Industries Building, located in the south hallway and upstairs by the restrooms.

Stay hydrated and enjoy the Iowa State Fair! These stations are at the Fair, year-round!

Each year, Des Moines Water Works hosts the William G. Stowe Citizen Water Academy to add to growing network of emerging leaders who are knowledgeable about and engaged in water issues. Apply by Aug. 30 for the academy. There is no fee, charge or tuition to apply or attend. www.citizenwateracademy.com.

Here’s what Cassie Druhl, water resources outreach coordinator for Polk County Public Works, had to say about the William G. Stowe Citizen Water Academy:

“The Citizen Water Academy provided me with a well-rounded knowledge of drinking water issues in Central Iowa and how they connect to the overall health of Iowans and to our natural environment. Being new to Central Iowa, it also gave me a crash course in the political and social issues surrounding supplying safe drinking water in the region. I learned that not all problems have concrete solutions, and being innovative and adaptive in the face of adversity is key to the ongoing success of Des Moines Water Works.”

Don Staley, a professional engineer at Des Moines Water Works, helped the city of Des Moines save the beloved rocket slide in Union Park. Don’s kids used to play on the slide, and city officials asked him to help resolve structural design issues. Thanks, Don, for your part in saving the city’s oldest play structure!

Beloved Union Park Rocket Slide reopens DES MOINES, Iowa — The Rocket Slide at Des Moines Union Park opened in 1971 during the height of the “space craze”.   “This is the city’s oldest play structure an…

Thank you to Emma Keiser from Sen. Joni Ernst’s staff for visiting Des Moines Water Works.

We appreciate the opportunity to share how we provide 600,000 Central Iowans with reliable, clean drinking water every day and the increasing raw source water quality challenges we face.

Part of our role in advocating for clean source water is to provide tours and tell our story to our community and elected leaders. COO Kyle Danley and CFO Amy Kahler, pictured here with Emma, led the tour, which included a visit to DMWW’s laboratory, the most complex utility lab in the state.

Stay hydrated and bring your reusable bottle to the Iowa State Fair! Des Moines Water Works is proud to sponsor 13 new bottle fill stations located throughout the State Fairgrounds to help keep fairgoers hydrated.

A reusable bottle filled with tap water is a great way to Think Downstream about our environment!

Find the stations in these locations:
💧4-H Exhibits Building: By the restrooms inside the main area and the lobby
💧Animal Learning Center: Between the restrooms
💧Cultural Center: North side of the building by the family restroom on all three floors
💧Elwell Family Food Center: Inside and outside between the restrooms
💧Youth Inn: North and south ends of the building on the lower level

Delta Dental has sponsored two stations inside the Varied Industries Building, located in the south hallway and upstairs by the restrooms.

Stay hydrated and enjoy the Iowa State Fair! These stations are at the Fair, year-round!

If you're attending the Iowa State Fair Parade today, bring your reusable water bottle!

Des Moines Water Works will provide a water station at the northwest corner of East 12th Street and East Grand Avenue. A water tank for horses will be at the northwest corner of East 10th and Des Moines streets.

Thanks to our friends at Des Moines Parks and Recreation for bringing part of their summer camps program to visit Des Moines Water Works Park! Our staff shared information about the ponds and prairie in the park and their role in water quality. Day-campers made flower seed bombs, planted prairie flowers, and participated in a show-and-tell with our Water Distribution team.