Water Quality 101
The Basics of Water Quality in Iowa
We believe all Iowans, urban and rural, deserve the best possible water quality — for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and all the other vital roles water plays in our lives.
But what exactly does it mean to have great water quality? And how do we know if our water is up to snuff? Check the topics below to learn what water quality is, how it’s measured, and how all of us can help improve it — for ourselves and future generations.
Water quality glossary
Water quality refers to the suitability of water for a given use, whether that be drinking and cooking, bathing, agriculture, industry, recreation, or any other human use. As water quality efforts expand in Iowa, so does water quality-related jargon. To brush up on your water quality vocab, check out our quick-reference water quality and soil health glossary.
Watersheds: where we get our water
Do you know what watershed you live in? A watershed is an area of land that drains into a body of water, such as a lake, river, or stream. Watersheds can be as small as the water flowing to your neighborhood pond, and as large as 31 states! Learn more about watersheds and find out which one you live in.
What are nutrients and why do we need them?
Did you know nitrogen in gas form makes up 78% of our atmosphere? Nitrogen is also a key part of proteins and DNA and exists in every cell in your body. Plants need nitrogen for green, leafy growth, but it has to be converted to a more available form called nitrate. Nutrients are an essential part of life on earth, but they can also cause problems. Learn more about nutrients.
Iowa and the Gulf
Whether carried from farm fields, suburban lawns or city streets, excess nutrients in water can reach levels that pose a threat to human and habitat health. While some water utilities have tech to minimize such hazards, many don’t. Excess nutrients that make it into our rivers can hitch a ride downstream to the Gulf off the coast of Louisiana, where they can contribute to a large area of low-oxygen water known as the “Dead Zone.” Iowa farmers have been increasing their use of key Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy practices to help.
On-farm conservation
Iowa farmers have been among the leading groups taking steps to stem excess nutrient runoff before it flows into the local watershed. Cover crops, no-till or reduced tillage, edge-of-field water filtering structures, constructed wetlands, and prairie strips are just some of the on-farm water quality practices continuing to gain steam across Iowa.
Iowa’s water history and future vision
All of us use water – for living and our livelihoods (not to mention for fun!). We believe it is on all of us to do what we can to improve Iowa’s water quality. Iowa farmers are responding by adding water quality and soil health practices called for in the Iowa NRS, continuing a long tradition of adaptation and innovation in the face of big challenges. Adopting practices that address excess nutrients before they get into waterways is critical to improving water quality and reaching nutrient reduction goals. Learn more about Iowa’s Water History.