Des Moines Water Works is teaming up with NASA and the University of Iowa to forecast nitrate levels in the city’s waterways. The partnership aims to use NASA’s satellites and artificial intelligence to predict when nitrates could occur, allowing the water utility to better prepare and make more informed decisions.

Addressing Water Quality Challenges

High nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers have been a challenge for Des Moines Water Works and the Central Iowa Water Works, the regional water authority. This year, the nitrate removal facility was operated for a record 193 days. The new project seeks to ease this challenge by providing a few more days to prepare for potential nitrate spikes.

The University of Iowa’s IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering program will lead the project, which also involves other water utilities, including those in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The goal is to create a framework that can be applied to other water utilities across the country, making it a valuable resource for public water supply systems.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.