Des Moines Water Works

Automated Payment Options

We know life can get hectic.  Paying bills isn’t fun.  Between the many demands placed on all of us on a daily basis, routine tasks such as paying your water bill can fall to the bottom of the list.  To make life simpler for our customers, Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) offers several automated options for making payments.

One of the easiest payment methods DMWW offers is Direct Pay.  Direct Pay is a program in which your monthly payment is directly withdrawn from your bank account each month.  Sign up for Direct Pay by logging onto www.dmww.com and completing the Direct Pay form (under Customer Service), or electronically submitting your request via your online account.

Another automated payment method is Recurring Credit Card.  Like Direct Pay, your payment is automatically debited each month, but you specify a debit or credit card rather than a checking or savings account.  This option is also available on the website through your online account or by calling a Customer Service Representative at (515) 283-8700.

Both of these options produce a billing statement for your viewing and filing (may we recommend electronic statements, by the way) and you are able to see the amount that will be deducted from your account 10 days in advance.

Simplify life.  Log on to www.dmww.com to choose an automatic payment method that fits your lifestyle!

2,000 Students Celebrate Water

It’s National Drinking Water Week!  Students will learn and celebrate Iowa’s most valuable resource – water – at the 16^th Annual Iowa Children’s Water Festival.  The Iowa Children’s Water Festival, sponsored by Iowa Association of Water Agencies (IAWA), brings over 2,000 fifth grade students from 40 schools across the state of Iowa to a free, fun, educational day filled with learning experiences all related to some aspect of water.  All activities will be held on the Des Moines Area Community College-Ankeny Campus on Thursday, May 10, 2012, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 3:30 p.m.

The Iowa Children’s Water Festival is designed as an opportunity for the youth of Iowa to enjoy a fun-filled day, learning about all the aspects of water, including water quality, wise-water usage practices, safety and recreation.  Students participate in hands-on learning activities, presented by a variety of water professionals, representing government agencies, environmental organizations, higher education and private businesses.

“We want Iowa’s youth to understand what they and others do in their daily lives, directly impacts water resources,” says Laura Sarcone, Festival Coordinator. “If we want to continue to have an adequate and safe supply of water, we must become better ecologists at an early age.”

The Festival is coordinated by several local and state agencies, including Des Moines Water Works, DMACC, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, Iowa Rural Water Association and West Des Moines Water Works.

Students participate in hands-on learning activities, presented by a variety of water professionals, representing local and national government agencies, environmental organizations, higher education and private businesses.  The activities are designed to teach children about water in a learning-intensive, yet festive and fun environment.

The Iowa Children’s Water Festival is designed as an opportunity for the youth of Iowa to enjoy a fun-filled day, learning about all the aspects of water, including water quality, wise-water usage practices, uses, safety and fun.

Take Back the Tap Pledge

Although it may be convenient, choosing bottled water is not always better. Celebrate Drinking Water Week – May 6-12, 2012 – by pledging to Take Back the Tap.

Tap water is clean. In fact, Des Moines Water Works ranked number one on Forbes.com list of U.S. cities with the cleanest drinking water.

Tap water is inexpensive. If you drank bottled water every day for 70 years, it would cost a startling $101,000. If you drank tap water, it would cost less than $40.00.

Tap water is convenient. Increasingly, you can find cafés, shops and other venues that will refill your reusable water bottle. Locate a venue near you with a TapItWater.com mobile app.

Des Moines Water Works encourages customers to pledge to Take Back the Tap and show your commitment to drinking quality water from Des Moines Water Works.  Stop by the DSM H₂Go water station this Friday at Gray’s Lake from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and get a free reusable water bottle for signing a Take Back the Tap pledge, or submit an online pledge form by June 15, to be entered into a drawing to win a Des Moines Water Works prize pack!

Remember to choose tap water over bottled water whenever possible and when you are away from home and must choose a beverage in a non-reusable container, please recycle the bottle or can.

Also, stay informed about water quality.  Des Moines Water Works produces an annual water quality report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report.  This report, required by law to provide water quality information, is mailed to customers every June.  A copy of this year’s report can be found at http://www.dmww.com/water-quality/water-quality-data/water-quality-reports/.

Aquifer Storage and Recovery Wells

Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) has utilized two Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells as sources of water for four years.  These wells are installed deep into the Jordan Aquifer and used to store water that is needed when water demand is high – usually during the summer months when customers are using more water for irrigation of lawns and gardens.  When water demand is low, mainly during winter months, DMWW will store drinking water down into the wells which displace the native Jordan water around the wells.

A total of 270 million gallons can be stored in each of two ASR wells during the winter months when DMWW has excess water treatment capacity.  Then in the summer months, during higher water demand, the drinking water is pumped out of the ASR wells and into the water distribution system for use by customers.  The water is pumped out of each of the ASR wells at three million gallons per day rate.  These wells can pump for a total of 90 days to recover the 270 MG put into the wells.

The ASR wells can be constructed for about one-third the cost of adding capacity to an existing water treatment plant.  These ASR wells are utilized to take capacity demand off the treatment plants.

This is just one of the methods DMWW uses to maximize the funds used to invest in the infrastructure required to deliver quality water to our customer in the quantities that they need.

Posted by: Gary Benjamin No Comments

Prepare Yourself for Wild Weather

Reprinted with permission by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Iowa Newspaper Foundation

Iowa is no stranger to wild weather.  Prepare yourself with this helpful hints and terminology.

THUNDERSTORMS
All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightening which is one of the top three storm-related killers in the United States.

LIGHTENING
Remember the 30/30 Lightening Safety Rule: go indoors if, after seeing lightening, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thundering.  Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.  If you cannot get indoors, here are tips for staying safe outside:

• In an open area:  Go to a low place such as a ravine or valley. Watch out for flash flooding.
• On open water:  Get to land and find shelter immediately.
• Anywhere you feel your hair stand on end (which indicates that lightening is about to strike):  Squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands over your ears and your head between your knees. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize your contact to the ground. DO NOT lie flat on the ground.

FLOODS
Flooding happens during heavy rains, when rivers overflow, snow melts too fast or levees break.  This is the most common natural weather event. Here are few tips:

• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
• If you’re in a car and floodwaters rise around it, get out of the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.

TORNADOES
Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately.

• If you are at home, go to your pre-designated shelter area that you and your family determined, most likely the basement. If you do not have a basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, hallway) away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls. Do not open your windows.
• If you are in a vehicle, trailer or mobile home, get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or storm shelter.
• If you are outside with no shelter, lie flat in a nearby ditch and cover your head with your hands. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.
• Never try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.

TERMS TO KNOW

• Severe Thunderstorm Watch:  Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to happen. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or TV for information.
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning:  Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate danger to those in the path of the storm is likely and they should seek shelter.
• Flood Watch or Flashflood Watch:  Flooding may happen soon. Stay tuned to the radio or TV news for more information.
• Flood Warning:  You may be asked to leave the area. A flood may be happening or will be very soon.
• Flashflood Warning:  A flashflood is happening. Get to high ground right away.

Sources: American Red Cross, www.ready.gov  

How Much Water Are You Really Using?

We need water, but how much water does it take to do all of the things we need to do every day?

We use 98% of the water that comes to our houses for cleaning, so only 2% is used for drinking. The average American uses 100-150 gallons of water each day. That includes:

• 30 gallons to take a 5-minute shower – yes, that means 60 gallons for a 10-minute shower every day!
• 2 gallons each time we brush our teeth – Water is wasted by not turning off the water while brushing (if you turn it off you will use less than half a gallon).
• 30 gallons to fill the bathtub a little over halfway.
• 15 gallons to wash a load of dishes in the dishwasher – Make sure it is full before you run it!
• 20 gallons to wash dishes by hand – Water is wasted by leaving the rinse water running the whole time; turn the rinse water off and you will use less than 10 gallons.
• 50 gallons to wash a full load of clothes – don’t forget to reset the water level for smaller loads.
• 5 gallons each time you flush. If you have a low-flow toilet, then it uses about 2 gallons.

Other water usage facts:

• In the average household, faucets are turned on 70 times per day!
• If you leave the water running while washing your car, you can easily waste over 100 gallons of water.
• Approximately eight gallons of water is wasted per day if you have a leaky faucet – so get them fixed; they usually just need a new O-ring.

Posted by: Gail Peckumn No Comments

Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. to provide a venue for persons who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

Proper disposal of prescription drugs is also important to water quality.  Unwanted prescription drugs thrown down the drain or toilet can end up in water ways, potentially harming aquatic life, recreational activities and the quality of source water used for your drinking water.

Find a collection site near you.  In Polk County, you can drop off unwanted and unused prescription drugs at these locations:

Walgreens
2702 SE Delaware
Ankeny

Walgreens
3140 SE 14 Street
Des Moines

Walgreens
3030 University
Des Moines

West Des Moines Police Department
250 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines

Iowa Department of Public Safety HQ Building
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines

Johnston City Hall
6221 Merle Hay Road
Johnston

Altoona Fire Department
950 Venbury Drive
Altoona

Polk City City Hall
112 S. 3rd Street
Polk City

URBANDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT
3740 86TH ST
URBANDALE

DYMOND PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER
8505 HARBACH BLVD
CLIVE

Des Moines Water Works Celebrates Earth Day

Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) is gearing up for a special Earth Day weekend full of activities that promote watershed protection and wise use of Earth’s resources.

DMWW is a sponsor for City of Des Moines’ 2012 Trash Bash on Friday, April 20.  This year’s event is dedicated to improving Iowa’s waterways and water quality.  Teams of volunteers will kick-off the event at Nollen Plaza, where DMWW will have an educational booth and debut the DSMH2O Mobile Water Station for visitors to fill up their reusable water bottles!  Be sure to “check-in” to DSMH2O on Foursqaure to receive a free reusable water bottle or T-shirt!  Trash Bash volunteers will then set out to pick up trash in various locations around the city, including Water Works Park.  Last year, over 1,000 volunteers removed 6,000 pounds of trash, tires and recyclables.

DMWW will have an interactive booth at the Science Center of Iowa’s Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 21 at 11:00 am.  Stop by for fun games, including fishing for pollutants! Be sure to “check-in” to DSMH2O on Foursqaure to receive a free reusable water bottle or T-shirt!

At both events, DMWW will be asking visitors to complete a Take Back the Tap pledge form, encouraging everyone to choose tap water over bottled water whenever possible, as well as support policies that promote clean, affordable tap water for all.  Complete the pledge form and submit it to Des Moines Water Works by June 15 to be entered into a drawing to win a Des Moines Water Works prize pack!

Also, plan a visit to the Des Moines Botanical Center on Sunday, April 22.  Enjoy FREE admission on Earth Day!

What if My Water Tastes or Smells Funny?

Some people are more sensitive to subtle changes in taste or odors.  Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) uses the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers as water sources.  By using surface water, there can be some seasonal variations that occur.  The treatment process should eliminate the variation in finished water, but sometimes there will be a slight change some customers may notice.  For example, there may be a slight increase in smell or taste of chlorine at times, especially during a river’s spring thaw.  This is easily remedied by storing water for drinking in a pitcher in the refrigerator.

If you think you have an issue with taste and odor of the water in your home, there are a few things you can do to determine the source of the problem.  Check to see if the problem is apparent in all fixtures of the home.  For example, is the issue apparent in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room utility sink?  Many times the issue is only at one fixture.  This would indicate the cause is something in the household plumbing.  A few things to consider would be:  Has there been a recent change in the household plumbing?   Do you have an in-home water treatment device that needs regular service or filter changes?  Plastics can impart flavors and odors to the water; this can include parts in the faucet, plumbing lines, or appliances.  If the problem is present in all fixtures, try running the tub or shower faucet for a period of time and then recheck to see if there is still an issue.

If it is an odor issue, try pouring a glass and then smelling it in another room.  Sometimes the odor may be coming from another source, possibly a drain or garbage can, in the same room.  By eliminating this possibility, one can ensure that it is the water that contains the odor.  If you notice a sulfur odor, it may be from your home’s hot water heater.  If the temperature is not set high enough, bacteria can grow in the water heater.  A possible solution for this would be to turn the heater up high for a couple hours then return the setting to a normal level. If this is done, please use caution the first few times water is turned on, as water could still be hot.

If you are storing drinking water for convenient use, here are a few things to help prevent taste and odor issues.  Store water in a glass container, as plastic can impart taste or odors to the water.  Also make sure the container has a good seal.  Store in the refrigerator as water will have less flavor when chilled.  If the water has sat for a while, it may be flat.  If this is the case, pour it back and forth between containers or shake it to help aerate the water.  This will help to add oxygen to the water and remove the stale, flat flavor.

If you are still experiencing problems, please call your Des Moines Water Works at 283-8700 and report the issue and the duration the problem has been apparent.  We will work with you to diagnose the problem.

Replace Sports Drinks with Good, Old-fashioned H2O

Reprinted with permission by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Iowa Newspaper Foundation

You’ve probably reached for a sports drink thinking it was the healthy thing to do. But water is actually a better choice for you.

A common myth is sports drinks are needed during and after a game or workout to recover. The fact is unless you workout hard for more than one hour, the fluids lost through sweat can be replaced with plain water.

Sports drinks and vitamin waters are advertised as healthy drinks for athletes because they replace carbohydrates and electrolytes lost through sweating. And, for kids who have tough fitness programs or participate in a high-energy sport like basketball or soccer, they may be beneficial.

Carbs are broken down in your body into sugar, which is then used to feed your muscles and give you energy.  One carb is equal to 4 calories. If you haven’t burned up the calories in your workout equal to the calories you eat or drink, you end up with extra calories.  Drinking sports drinks when you don’t need them can lead to gaining weight.

Electrolytes are made up of potassium and sodium. These nutrients help restore fluid balance lost during sweating. However, because sweat is 99 percent water and only 1 percent electrolytes, you may actually consume more electrolytes than you need.

Experts say most kids get the electrolytes and carbs needed for sports and other activities through a balanced diet.  Hydration should come from drinking plenty of water before, during and after the activity.

Sports drinks may be appropriate for kids in competitive sports that last more than one hour. But during the school day and at most sports practices, water is the best drink for kids.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M System, “HealthHints”