Des Moines Water Works expects to spend $15 million to double the size of its nitrate removal facility to handle growing levels of the compound from the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers.

 

Utility officials say the new equipment and the cost to operate it will mean bigger rate increases for customers in coming years.

 

The Water Works board this week approved an $800,000 contract with CH2M, an engineering consultant based in West Des Moines, to design the facility expansion.

 

The utility's growth plan follow its failed lawsuit against three northern Iowa counties. Water Works sued 10 northern Iowa drainage districts claiming they were responsible for high nitrate levels reaching the Raccoon River, which supplies water to 500,000 central Iowans.

 

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