Poweshiek Water faces shortages

Last year in June Poweshiek Water Association issued a voluntary conserve water order for both the Amana and Tama Systems after experiencing peak water usage and a decreasing water source supply.

The volunteer order worked as water usage fell to a sustainable amount.

Since that time, the water sources have continued to weaken due to drought, and Poweshiek Water has been seeking new sources of water in both the Amana Treatment Plant and Tama Treatment Plant areas.

The existing water source at Tama can now only produce 1750 gallons per minute compared to 2,000 a year ago.

At the Amana facility, which is a much smaller plant and system than Tama, Poweshiek Water will not be able to provide the 150,000-170,000 gallons each day as was the case last year.

With work beginning last July at both treatment plants, three good water source areas were identified near the Tama Plant with three new wells scheduled to be operational by June 1.

At the Amana Treatment Plant, ground water has remained elusive but Poweshiek Water has continued studying the geological formation.

Because of the reduced availability of ground water for immediate use, Poweshiek Water upgraded its voluntary water conservation order to a mandatory one for their customers in the Tama and Amana systems.

Those customers who are affected in Benton, Iowa, Keokuk, Mahaska, Poweshiek, and Tama Counties received letters of notification last week.

Poweshiek Water has already installed the 4,500 feet of raw water line to the future site of the three new wells near the Tama Treatment Plant.

Cahoy Pump Service, the company drilling the wells, is scheduled to begin work sometime in April in order to meet the June 1 deadline.

The 14 wells that currently are used at Tama have pumps sitting as low as possible, which is causing some taste issues with our water. The water still is tested daily and is safe to drink.

The goal is to get sustainable flows back to near 2,000 gpm with the new and old wells combined before June 1, giving Poweshiek Water customers in both systems some relief.

Rain at any time, and more than just a sprinkle, would also help the situation.

At the Amana Plant location, Poweshiek Water has been working with a hydrologist and Collier Geophysics, which uses high resolution electrical resistivity tomography to locate potential alluvial water sources, but the ground hasn’t given promising prospects to this point.

The Amana Society worked with Poweshiek Water to clear a path near the Iowa River this winter, and Collier came to test that stretch of soil the week of February 26.

The hope is to find some good news from the data when Poweshiek Water staff meet March 21.

A drill company is poised to drill test holes on anything that is promising. Poweshiek Water also explored the option of purchasing some wells that were already existing, but there is some question on water quality from them.

When Poweshiek Water does find the necessary water, even while working at a rapid pace, it will take some time to get the correct design established, go through the proper channels to get the permits and then get the wells constructed along in addition to the raw water line to the treatment plant.

Poweshiek Water will keep seeking options until new water sources are established. After the wells are drilled at Tama, some additional water may be supplemented to the Amana System if the existing wells at Tama don’t degrade further in the next 80 days.

Updates to the mandatory water conservation order, water availability and the projects associated with the drought can be found on Poweshiek Water’s Facebook page and on its website, poweshiekwater.com.

To view the full Water Conservation Policy, go to poweshiekwater.com

1. Use private wells, if available, for livestock, outside and AG use, and your home, if the water is safe for human consumption.

2. Outdoor watering and irrigation is prohibited, except watering or irrigation of flower and vegetable gardens, trees and shrubs less than 4-years old, and new seeding or sod, which is permitted once a week with an application not to exceed 1-inch. Watering shall only be done between the hours 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.

3. Car washing is prohibited, except at commercial establishments that provide that service.

4. No rural water should be used to fill private swimming pools, children's wading pools, reflecting pools or any other outdoor pool or pond.

5. No rural water shall be used to wash streets, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks or building exteriors.

6. No rural water shall be used for nonessential cleaning of commercial and industrial equipment, machinery and interior spaces.

7. Water should be served at restaurants only upon the request of the customer.

8. Agricultural Spraying using Rural Water may need to cease.

Priority of usage if additional measures are needed will be human consumption, livestock consumption, ag use for spraying.

It is highly likely that AG spraying in the Amana and Tama systems will need to get water from a private well or a community that is not served by Poweshiek Water near, on or after April 1.

We will be treating wells between now and then but are not anticipating sustainable increased flows.

Residents should start planning now. This act will make the largest and most positive impact to keeping the system in order so all living things have drinkable water until at least June 1.

Once the new wells are established at Tama, Poweshiek Water will re-evaluate available water.

Even residents that use 10,000 gallons a month or less for spraying need to follow this order. We cannot have our water source or the treatment process overtaxed.

Surcharges and premium rates may apply to those that forgo the mandate. The full water conservation policy can be viewed at poweshiekwater.com.