Guest post: Iowa needs to stop ignoring our clean water crisis

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources needs to come clean about our dirty water.

Out here on the farm, we know things can break down and go wrong. And when they do, we address it. We don’t ignore the problem and hope it goes away. We face the truth, fix the problem and move on. That’s how we live our lives. And that’s why I was upset when I heard the recent news about Iowa’s impaired waterways.

A story in the Iowa Capital Dispatch said the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was telling the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to add seven drinking water segments to its 2024 impaired water list because of high nitrate levels. But DNR officials were dragging their feet, acting like nothing was wrong, and hoping that the EPA would go away.

From beach closures across Iowa to increasing cancer rates, this isn’t the time to ignore our clean water crisis.

As a nurse, I take public health concerns seriously. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can affect everyone. It can cause blue baby syndrome, and it may cause birth defects, thyroid disease and increase the risk of colon cancer and respiratory infections. The simple truth is too much nitrate in our drinking water can be toxic. It’s something we need to pay attention to and address.

Thankfully, the EPA is stepping in to correct the DNR’s reluctance to tell the truth. The federal agency is taking public comments now through Dec. 13, and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement has launched a letter campaign to EPA so people all over the state can speak out on the issue. You can add your name and comments by going to www.iowacci.org/epa or calling 515-282-0484.

We deserve honest and truthful information about water quality in Iowa. The DNR should be driven by science and facts instead of spin and misinformation. There’s too much at stake when we’re dealing with water pollution caused by corporate hog factories and other Big Ag industries.

The Iowa DNR’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance our natural resources. They need to be telling the truth, not hiding it. And we need elected officials at the Statehouse who will actually do something about the water crisis we’re facing. It’s time for action, not more foot dragging.

Our work to hold factory farms and corporate ag accountable will continue. Some of our so-called political leaders will tell us we need to maintain the status quo for Iowa to be a leader in agriculture, but we’re not buying it.

Iowans have always been innovators. It’s in our DNA. We can solve problems in a way that protects and enhances our natural resources, and improves the quality of life for all Iowans. So let’s get to work and clean up our dirty water.

Barb Kalbach is a fourth-generation family farmer, registered nurse, and board president of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. She can be reached at [email protected].