Des Moines Water Works

Des Moines Water Works

Company type	Municipal utility
Industry	Water supply
Founded	1871
Founder	Frederick M. Hubbell, Jefferson S. Polk
Headquarters	Des Moines , United States
Area served	Greater Des Moines metropolitan area
Key people	Bill Stowe (CEO, as of 2017)
Products	Potable water
Number of employees	3,500 (during Great Depression period; current number not specified)
Website	www.dmww.com

The Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) is a municipally owned water utility based in Water Works Park, Des Moines, Iowa. Established in 1871 along the Raccoon River, it provides potable water to nearly 500,000 individuals throughout the greater Des Moines metropolitan area. By 2017, DMWW operated a total of three water treatment plants.

In March 2015, the DMWW board filed a lawsuit against three counties in Iowa, citing violations of the Clean Water Act due to excessive nitrate runoff that contributed to hypoxic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico.

History

As Iowa’s largest water provider and one of the top 100 utilities in the United States, DMWW serves roughly half a million customers within the Des Moines metropolitan region.

The Des Moines Water Company was founded in 1871 by Frederick M. Hubbell and Jefferson S. Polk with an initial investment of $3,000. B. F. Allen played a key role in raising $250,000 and became the company’s first president. Ownership passed to Polk & Hubbell, and by 1880 it was reorganized as a joint-stock corporation governed by a five-person board elected by shareholders. The company secured a 40-year exclusive franchise to operate.

The original infrastructure was installed on Walnut Street and featured Birdsill Holly hydrants capable of delivering six streams concurrently. The city required installation of 10 miles of piping within ten months to provide public hydrants for drinking water access. Initial pumping capacity was approximately two million gallons daily. The first year’s operational expenses totaled $5,770, and users were exempt from municipal water taxes.

Water initially came from an iron filtration tank near the Raccoon River bank; however, frequent clogging prompted the creation of an innovative infiltration gallery system between 1884 and 1885 that utilized groundwater along the riverbank. This replaced the iron filters and was the first such system implemented in the United States. A small dam was constructed to raise river levels adjacent to the gallery.

In 1880, the company adopted the name Des Moines Water Works Company. In 1891, it built its inaugural water tower with a capacity of 530,000 gallons; this tower remained operational until 1931 and was demolished in 1939.

1900–1919

At the turn of the century, typhoid outbreaks were common among those relying on private wells. In response, construction began in 1902 on a new water gallery composed of large concrete rings designed to enhance groundwater infiltration; however, flooding delayed its completion until 1910. A significant flood in June 1903 disrupted local commerce and caused widespread unemployment and homelessness. By 1910, supplementary ponds were created in Water Works Park to boost supply, and a pumping station was added in 1918 to move river water into these ponds.

Between 1872 and 1919, concerns about water quality and ownership persisted. The city made several unsuccessful attempts to purchase the Water Works due to financial constraints and voting challenges. Following disputes over rates and unpaid bills in 1911, municipal water purity standards were enacted. DMWW responded by introducing hypochlorite treatment and establishing a professional water testing laboratory staffed with trained personnel. A 1917 investigation identified pollution from upstream sewage discharges into both Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers as well as local industrial waste sources. Although a purchase agreement was reached by 1914, market conditions prevented bond issuance in 1918, delaying acquisition.

Ultimately, the city completed acquisition in 1919, renaming the utility Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) as a publicly owned entity under Iowa law with ratepayer ownership. Charles Denman, who had been managing since 1896, assumed the role of General Manager with an annual salary of $8,000.

1920–1999

A new pumping station commenced operations at the present location in 1920. By 1923, legislative changes ended City Council oversight of the DMWW Board; instead, the Mayor appoints Board members pending Council approval. In 1928, Denman suggested installing a softening facility to lower consumer expenses related to soap and fabric wear, though construction was postponed until after World War II.

The Hazen water tower, Des Moines' only water tower standing 110 feet tall with a capacity of two million gallons, was erected in 1929. Fluoridation sparked controversy beginning in 1931. Throughout the Great Depression (1933–1935), DMWW employed roughly 3,500 men who were unable to pay for infrastructure work. Each year, thousands of trees and shrubs were cultivated from greenhouse seedlings and planted.

In 1942, DMWW purchased 650 acres for the Dale Maffitt Reservoir, which opened for fishing by 1948. Flood events in 1945 and an unprecedented flood in 1947 highlighted the critical need for flood control measures. Between 1948 and 1949, the softening plant—referred to as the "filter building"—was constructed alongside the first water rate increase in five decades. Levees were built around the Fleur Drive treatment facility in 1950, and fluoridation began in 1959 following a city council directive.

The Nollen and Wilchinski Standpipes were completed in 1955; later, a northern standpipe near Merle Hay Mall was finished in 1973 and named the Tenny Standpipe. In 1957, Iowa Light and Power installed a substation at DMWW, facilitating a shift from steam-powered to electric motors and pumps. The following year saw capacity expansion with additional filters and softening basins.

Congress approved the construction of Saylorville Dam on the Des Moines River for flood mitigation in 1958; groundbreaking occurred in 1965, with completion achieved in 1977, providing enhanced protection for Des Moines and downstream communities.

Starting in 1972, water meter reading devices were installed on residences. An office building was added in 1985, followed by an eight-tank nitrate removal system constructed in 1992.

During the Great Flood of 1993, flooding forced an eleven-day shutdown of the Fleur Drive treatment plant, resulting in much of Des Moines lacking potable water for over two weeks. Subsequent levee elevations reached 31 feet.

In 1998, construction commenced on the Maffitt Treatment Plant to increase water treatment capacity.

21st century

The Maffitt Lake Water Treatment Plant began operation in May 2000 with a capacity of 25 million gallons per day (mgd); it was renamed the L.D. McMullen Water Treatment Plant in 2007. This facility sources water from five radial collector wells and Maffitt Reservoir. By August 2003, monthly pumping hit a record high of 2,262.82 million gallons.

Construction of the Saylorville Water Treatment Plant started in June 2006 with a design capacity of 10 mgd, utilizing membrane technology for softening and purification processes. That same month set a daily pumping record of 90.19 million gallons. During Iowa’s flood event in 2008, DMWW maintained uninterrupted service due to levee enhancements and proactive flood management.

The Saylorville plant became operational in April 2011 to serve customers north of Des Moines. Its treatment includes oxidation to precipitate iron and manganese, ultrafiltration membranes to remove particulates, and reverse osmosis membranes targeting dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and nitrates.

By July 2012, new monthly and daily pumping records were established at 2,544.12 million gallons and an unspecified daily peak respectively.

In March 2015, DMWW’s board filed a lawsuit against Calhoun, Buena Vista, and Sac counties over excessive nitrate discharges into the Raccoon River without proper Clean Water Act permits. The suit contended that tile drainage accelerates nutrient pollution. DMWW is obligated to comply with EPA maximum contaminant levels and invested $540,000 during winter 2014/2015 for nitrate removal efforts. The utility sought enforcement of pollution controls on agricultural sources typically exempt due to their diffuse nature. Opposition came from the Iowa Farm Bureau and Governor Terry Branstad; however, urban public opinion largely supported DMWW’s position. The Iowa Soybean Association recognized the necessity for additional funding mechanisms to fulfill Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy aiming for a 45% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus to address issues like the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.

In March 2017, a federal court dismissed DMWW’s claims, ruling that responsibility for addressing water quality lies with the Iowa legislature.

Legislation titled Dismantling the Des Moines Water Works (HF 484/SF 456) was introduced in February 2017 proposing transfer of assets and control to local municipalities. DMWW CEO Bill Stowe characterized it as retaliation linked to the lawsuit. The bill was moved to unfinished business by April but remained stalled within the Senate chamber.

System Information

DMWW distributes water sourced from three treatment facilities through an underground network spanning roughly of pipelines equipped with 9,800 valves. The utility oversees the maintenance of more than 80,000 water meters and automated reading units, around 10,000 fire hydrants, and seven storage reservoirs. In July 2012, the peak daily water demand reached 96.64 million gallons.

Average water pressure stands at 50 psi, fluctuating between 35 and over 100 psi depending on specific locations. Certain areas utilize water towers to ensure pressure stability. The city of Des Moines is segmented into four distinct pressure zones, each supported by dedicated pumping stations.

DMWW manages Water Works Park, a 1,500-acre urban green space near downtown Des Moines, as well as Maffitt Reservoir, encompassing 1,300 acres of forested land and a 200-acre lake. Wholesale water sales extend to over 20 regional customers. Approximately 20% of DMWW’s supply—about 12.5 million gallons daily—is consumed by West Des Moines and Waukee. While West Des Moines Water Works generates 70% of its own water, projections indicated demand would surpass production capabilities by 2017. In response to a DMWW rate increase of 10% in 2016, both West Des Moines and Waukee have been investigating the Raccoon River alluvial aquifer as an alternative source.

Budget

As of , DMWW's total assets were valued at $250 million. The budget forecast for 2017 included $62 million in operating income, $41.6 million allocated to operating costs, $29.6 million earmarked for capital projects, and $5.3 million designated for debt servicing.

Water rate

From April 2017 onward, residential users within Des Moines are charged $4.11 per thousand gallons; meanwhile, residents in Polk County pay nearly twice that amount at $8.10. An additional water availability fee applies inside the city limits ranging between $6 and $75 depending on meter size. Sewer fees are set at $6.59 per thousand gallons within the city and $13.18 outside city boundaries. Stormwater management services come at a rate of $11.50 per Equivalent Residential Unit. Furthermore, DMWW issues bills on behalf of the Des Moines City Council for Solid Waste Services, recycling initiatives, and yard waste collection.

Governance

In accordance with Iowa Code Section 388, ownership of the utility rests with water rate payers while governance is conducted by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Mayor of Des Moines and confirmed by the city council. This Board exercises authority comparable to that of the city council regarding utility management but lacks taxing power. It appoints a General Manager who is charged with developing an annual budget primarily financed through water sales revenue. The Board evaluates, amends as necessary, and approves this budget and holds exclusive rights to enter into contracts on behalf of the utility.

See also

• Lists of public utilities
• List of United States water companies