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ARTICLE · 21 APRIL 2017

Des Moines Water Works Sues County For Agricultural Runoff

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The Storm Lake Times covered how the counties in the area allow too much nitrogen to be released through farm drainage systems into the river that provides a drinking water source for the community.

CanadaEnvironment
Paula Lombardi
Paula Lombardi
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The Storm Lake Times, a small family-run Iowa newspaper, won a 2017 Pulitzer Price award for its coverage of issues associated with farm pollution from local agricultural companies and the failure of the County to control the agricultural runoff in the area.

The Storm Lake Times covered how the counties in the area allow too much nitrogen to be released through farm drainage systems into the river that provides a drinking water source for the community.

The Des Moines Water Works sued the counties, and the Storm Lake Times revealed that their defence of the lawsuit was funded by the Farm Bureau and other agricultural groups. The Des Moines Water Works sued three counties – Calhoun, Buena Vista and Sac counties ("Drainage Districts") – for the high nitrite levels found in the Raccoon River, a primary water source for Des Moines. The claim, filed on March 17, 2015, seeks a declaratory judgment that the Drainage Districts have violated the Clean Water Act

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