Central Iowa Water Works Lifts Residential Lawn Watering Ban

Central Iowa Water Works lifted its mandatory residential lawn watering ban on July 1, 2026, less than a month after imposing it. The utility shifted back to voluntary conservation measures, crediting central Iowans for stepping up to stabilize the region's water supply without the need for prolonged, heavy-handed government mandates.

How Voluntary Conservation Stabilized the Water Supply

The Stage III ban was originally put in place on June 8 due to soaring nitrate levels in the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. These high nitrate levels strained the capacity of local utilities to treat water for safe consumption. However, residents took personal responsibility and reduced their water usage, allowing the utility to ease restrictions.

The move to Stage II voluntary measures