The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has a website devoted to Drinking Water Week that states: “For more than 40 years, the American Water Works Association and its members have used Drinking Water Week as a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives.”
The ISU Extension and Outreach Natural Resource Stewardship program provides a good overview of Drinking Water Quality in Iowa here: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/drinking-water-quality-iowa
This week, Madison SWCD is highlighting drinking water sources in Madison County, Iowa:
Rural Water Systems
Madison County is served by three different rural water systems:
Private Wells
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water, 15% of the U.S. population relies on private wells for drinking water. The Iowa State University Extension Natural Resources Stewardship (hyperlink to: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/) program estimates that about 7% of Iowans rely on private wells.
There are 814 private household wells on record in Madison County, but that is only for recorded wells (there are likely more).
More information about Private Drinking Water Wells can be found here:
- Private Drinking Water Wells (EPA)
- Protect Your Private Well Infographic (EPA)
- Keeping Your Private Well Water Safe (ISU Extension & Outreach)
The Madison County Environmental Health Office offers free annual well water testing, and they can also assist with well closures to ensure that abandoned wells do not contribute to groundwater contamination. They can be reached at 515-462-2636.
Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake is the drinking water source for the City of Winterset, and supplies water to about a third of residents in Madison County. Over the years, the City of Winterset/Municipal Utilities Board and Madison SWCD have worked together with farmers and landowners in the watershed to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff.
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION RESOURCES
Whether you get your water from a municipal utility, a rural water association, or a private well, having safe, clean drinking water matters to us all! You can learn more about protecting source water here: