News : Water Conservation order issued for those in Dysart

The Poweshiek Water Association has implemented a MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION ORDER for those in the Tama and Amana water systems which include Dysart.

"PWA regrets the need to ask the public for this conservation effort but it is in the best interest of the entire system. Your actions will help save as much water as possible so our customers and livestock we serve can still continue to drink.

We have been working hard to get ahead of the drought conditions in the last 10 months. Unfortunately, we are going to need everyone's help in getting through this hand that Mother Nature has dealt us. Last year, in June, we issued a voluntary conserve water order and we did see a decrease in water usage across both our Amana and Tama Systems. THANK YOU to those of you who altered your lifestyle to benefit your neighbors and fellow PWA members. Since that time our water sources have continued to weaken all the while we have been actively seeking new water sources in both the Amana Treatment Plant area and the Tama Treatment area. Three good water source areas were found near the Tama Plant with three new wells scheduled to be operational by June 1, 2024. In the Amana Treatment Plant area, ground water has remained elusive when compared with Tama. The next stretch until June 1st may be the toughest any of you and PWA will have to endure since the company began when it comes to water availability for our Tama and Amana Systems. PWA will continue to seek additional water sources at our Amana Plant all while making upgrades at Tama.
MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION ORDER
1. Use private wells, if available, for livestock, outside and Ag use, and your home if the water is safe for human consumption.
2. Outdoor watering and irrigation is prohibited, except as follows:
Watering or irrigation of flower and vegetable gardens, trees and shrubs less than 4-years old, and new seeding or sod is permitted once a week with an application not to exceed 1-inch. Watering shall only be done between the hours of 8:00PM to 8:00AM.
3. Car washing is prohibited, except at commercial establishments that provide that service.
4. No water shall be used to fill private swimming pools, children's wading pools, reflecting pools or any other outdoor pool or pond.
5. No water shall be used to wash streets, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks or building exteriors.
6. No water shall be used for nonessential cleaning of commercial and industrial equipment, machinery, and interior spaces.
7. Water shall be served at restaurants only upon the request of the customer.
8. Agricultural Spraying using Rural Water may need to cease.
Priority of usage if additional measures are needed will be:
1: Human Consumption
2: Livestock consumption
3: Ag use for spraying
*It is highly likely that Ag spraying in the Amana and/or Tama system will need to get water from a private well or a community that is not served by PWA near, on or after April 1st (We will be treating wells between now and then but are not anticipating to give us sustainable increased flows) in order to insure that rural water is available to humans and livestock for drinking within these systems. Please start your planning now! This act will make the largest and most positive impact to keeping the system in order so all living things have drinkable water until at least June 1st. Once the new wells are established at Tama, PWA will re-evaluate available water at that time. It is important that even those of you that use 10,000 gallons a month or less for spraying follow this order. We cannot have our water source overtaxed or the
facilities continuously running. Of course if we start to get re-occurring rains, that would help to lift this order. Please watch our Facebook page and Webpage for announcements in regards to the changes in our water conservation orders.

**Surcharges and/or premium rates will apply to those that forgo the mandate.

Please find the full water conservation policy here.

The information that was sent to the Tama System members can be found here and that which was sent to the Amana System members can be found here.
For more information or if you have any questions, please call our office at 641-522-7416. We are here to answer any and all questions you may have. For more water saving tips click here.