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April 6, 2026

Warming winters lead to more nitrate pollution in the drinking water near farms

  • Scientists say it's a sign of a problem that is only growing.
    • By MELINA WALLING
    Associated Press

    When pollution gets bad enough in the rivers supplying Iowa's largest city with drinking water, it costs Des Moines around $16,000 a day to run a special system to filter out dangerous nitrates. It's a fact of life in the agriculture-dependent state — and climate change is making the water quality problem even worse.

    The nitrates come from fertilizer and pesticides that make their way into the soil and then waterways like the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. It's not usually a problem in winter, but this year Iowa's capital had to filter in January and February — just the second time that's happened in more than 30 years. That's likely going to mean higher water bills for people who live in a state with some of the nation's waterways that are most vulnerable to nitrate pollution.


     
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