FAQ

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Clarke County, Iowa has recently seen its 16th driest February and 17th driest year to date over the past 131 years. Previously, Iowa had been under “Severe Drought” conditions from November 7th, 2023 through June of 2024. At this time the city of Osceola in Clarke County, Iowa is not under drought conditions or conservation and continues to monitor water shortage conditions weekly.

Section 1: Water Watch – Voluntary Conservation was implemented on September 21, 2022. Notification was sent to all Osceola Water Works customers on September 21, 2022. Water conservation restrictions were lifted in June, 2024.

Since 09/21/22, communications have been published or sent to customers at the very least once each month, sometimes more often. Osceola Water Works publishes information in the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune, on Clarke County Life, Facebook, and OsceolaWaterWorks.com.

Operating revenue for Osceola Water Works comes through collected water rates only.

No.

No.

Each month, meters are read for the amount of water that has been consumed (used).  “Utility” bills are sent out on the 1^st day of the following month.  (May water usage is billed on June 1^st)

Water Usage – Water Rates are controlled by the Osceola Water Works Board of Trustees. Water Rates can be found at osceolawaterworks.com/rates/

Water Excise Tax:  In 2018, the Iowa legislature passed a new law, effective July 1, 2018 creating a 6% Water Service Excise Tax.  Water Excise Tax (WET) replaced the 6% Sales tax. Collected WET is remitted to the Iowa Department of Revenue.

Sewer Usage – Sewer Rates are controlled by the City of Osceola.

Sales Tax:  Sewage services are charged a 7% sales tax to non-residential commercial customers.  Collected Sewer Sales Tax is remitted to the Iowa Department of Revenue.

Garbage – Garbage Rates are controlled by the City of Osceola.

Based upon a usage of 2,000 gallons:

• The Water portion of the Utility bill is $30.60 (29%) controlled by the Osceola Water Board.
• The Sewer portion of the Utility bill is $55.00 (51%) controlled by the City of Osceola.
• The Garbage portion of the Utility bill is $23.21 (21%) controlled by the City of Osceola.

Total Minimum Residential Utility Bill for 2,000 gallons is $108.81 plus tax.

In 2018, the Iowa legislature passed a new law, effective July 1, 2018 creating a 6% Water Service Excise Tax.  Water Excise Tax (WET) replaced the 6% Sales tax. Collected WET is remitted to the Iowa Department of Revenue. Water Excise Tax collected are distributed into two funds which provide money to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Finance Authority. Those funds are used to improve water quality in Iowa. The remaining portion that is not distributed into either of those funds is deposited into the General Fund.

There are a number of ways customers can pay their Osceola Water Works bill:

• Pay by Mail
• Pay in Person
• Call the OWW office
• Use the OWW Drop Box
• Monthly auto payments can be set up via FrontDesk

Or, you can click the “Pay Online” button on the home page or in the navigation section of this Web site.

On average, there are 20 water main breaks per year. In 2024, there were 18 and in 2025 there were 15.

Osceola Water Works Board of Trustees meet monthly on the 1^st Thursday of each month.

Meetings are held at:  Osceola Water Works, 208 W Jefferson, Osceola, IA  50213 at 5:30pm and in compliance with House File 2074, Sixty-seventy General Assembly, Chapter 28A of the Code of Iowa, Public Attendance is welcome.

Meeting Agendas and Meeting Minutes can be found on the Osceola Water Works website here.

While the idea has its merits, the actual impact of using plowed snow or snow removed from streets after storms to replenish a community’s raw water supply could result in dangerous chemicals and contaminants in the drinking water. While melting snow and runoff from surrounding streets and farmland does eventually make it to surrounding bodies of water, creeks and rivers, the process of natural filtration – water soaking into the ground, through clay, sand, rock, and sediment below – protects the water source’s natural environment from an abundance of hazardous chemicals and constituents put on roads, driveways, and farmland.

Treating raw water for consumer use is a delicate balancing act of continued filtration, chemical management and monitoring. Normal raw water supplies are measured and precisely treated within the community’s water treatment plant and are based on ongoing chemical balances and protocols. To introduce road chemicals, oils and brine from winter plowing would not only impact the ability to effectively and economically treat the raw water, but also introduce potentially hazardous materials and/or chemicals into the surrounding environment.

In short: It’s best to let nature take its course when it comes to melting snow and letting it make its way to the various lakes and tributaries surrounding the community.