Nitrates and more: Water surveillance shows concerns

As director of the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, I have followed with considerable interest the ongoing debate over the quality of Iowa’s water. My views are shaped by the fact that, since 1904, the SHL has had the legal responsibility to help public agencies and private individuals understand health threats that come from the environment. Back in 1904 this meant tracking the spread of typhoid fever and, from SHL surveillance data, we know that 159 Iowans were infected with typhoid fever from 1905 to 1906.

Today, few may think about typhoid fever in Iowa water, but we all should be concerned about the quality of our state’s wells, lakes, rivers and streams and follow the policy debates in the Iowa General Assembly. The environmental threats to our health are not abstractions.

Recently the State Hygienic Laboratory tested levels of nitrates in water to help answer a question posed in a KCCI Channel 8 story: “How safe is your water?” Nitrates in samples collected from waterways in a 530-mile section of northeast and central Iowa measured well above the Environmental Protection Agency water quality standards. High levels of nitrates in the water can affect a child’s neurological development. Nitrates are a primary focus of Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy. However, our tests also revealed evidence of E. coli in some locations. This demonstrates that multiple sources can potentially contaminate Iowa’s water, and some are naturally occurring.

For example, in 2015, SHL conducted a six-month survey of water from private wells throughout the state. Testing revealed that 38.6 percent showed the presence of naturally occurring arsenic above 10 parts per billion, the EPA’s allowable level for public water supplies. The study also found that water from some wells measured more than six times that limit.

Recently, work has begun with the University of Iowa’s Dr. Michael Schultz to understand whether radon might be another risk in Iowa’s wells. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources estimates 288,000 Iowans use private wells for their drinking water. Unfortunately, water from these private wells is not regulated.

This evidence suggests that Iowa should take a fresh and comprehensive look at water quality, and how we can best serve our people. A unified, inclusive approach to understanding state watersheds and how we can improve quality is vital to our economy and health.

For 112 years the SHL has provided objective scientific evidence to support state policymakers and private citizens assess their risk and plan their response. At the State Hygienic Laboratory, we stand ready to provide scientific expertise and advanced testing capabilities to inform the discussions ahead.  I urge everyone to become informed and engaged in these debates because the quality of the state’s water system cannot be taken for granted.

SHL objective surveillance data informs these discussions as part of critical research that poses the ongoing question, “How safe is our water.” We look forward to supporting all who want answers.

Christopher Atchison, director of the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa.