Recent Rainfall Replenishes West Lake

On April 22, 2026   /   General Water Works News  

April’s abundant rainfall has delivered much needed moisture and as a result, the lake level at West Lake has risen to 1072.70 feet above MSL (Mean Sea Level) and is flowing over the West Lake spillway.     This moisture recovery is being seen across the entire state of Iowa. The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that drought conditions across Iowa have eased compared to the beginning of the year.  Many areas that were experiencing moderate to severe drought have seen a reduction of intensity, thanks to April precipitation. While not all regions have fully recovered, the trends are

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Conservation Today Can Help Ahead of Future Dry Conditions

On March 31, 2026   /   General Water Works News  

A dry winter across the Midwest has contributed to widening drought concerns.  Osceola saw less than two tenths of an inch of precipitation in February, more than an inch below normal for the month. The entire state received almost an inch less than average, labeling large portions of Iowa as in D1, moderate drought, per the U.S. Drought Monitor Map for Iowa, with some regions already facing severe drought conditions. As we transition into spring and as temperatures rise, dry conditions across Iowa are expected to expand and worsen, evaporation will increase, and water use will begin to climb as

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Employment Opportunities at Osceola Water Works

On March 10, 2026   /   General Water Works News  

As part of an organizational restructuring and realignment of job responsibilities, Osceola Water Works is accepting applications for a Utility Service Coordinator. Under the administrative direction of the Utility Business Director, the Utility Service Coordinator is responsible for the daily operations of the Utility Office and assisting with all accounting functions of the Osceola Water Works.  This position requires an Associate Degree in Accounting and frequent interaction with the public. This is a terrific opportunity for the right candidate to grow and excel,” said Brandon Patterson, Water Superintendent. “While there are a lot of moving parts and detail-oriented tasks involved in

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Nitrates: What It Means for Osceola’s Drinking Water

On March 10, 2026   /   General Water Works News  

Your Osceola Water Works (OWW) team works hard to ensure the water you use every day is clean and safe. Water treatment processes play a key role in making sure the water from our taps is safe, for drinking, cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene as well as supporting healthy communities and preventing the spread of illness.   High levels of nitrates in drinking water can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and infants under six months. During our most recent testing period, January 7, 2026, nitrate levels from West Lake measured 0.35 mg/L. For comparison, the U.S. Environmental Protection

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What Current Weather Patterns Mean for West Lake and Our Water Supply

On February 24, 2026   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  

At the February meeting of the Osceola Water Works Board of Trustees, the Board discussed uncertain weather patterns along with the Seasonal Precipitation and Seasonal Temperature Outlooks. That uncertainty is exactly why preparation is so important and how, by staying mindful of water usage now, Osceola can reduce the risk of future shortages. At first glance, the approximately one inch of rain received in January 2026 may seem encouraging, as it is technically above normal. While the total amount looks positive on paper, all that rain fell in one day and did very little to relieve our abnormally dry conditions

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Osceola Water Works Makes Annual Transition to Free Chlorine

On September 30, 2025   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  

During the month of October, Osceola Water Works will make a temporary change in disinfectant to Free Chlorine that will take place starting October 2, 2025 and continue through November 5, 2025. This practice is endorsed by health authorities like the EPA and is not considered a public health risk.   Converting to Free Chlorine is a preventative, periodic maintenance practiced by many water utilities to ensure continued quality and integrity of the public water system.  While Chloramines are effective, it is necessary to convert to Free Chlorine, which is a stronger disinfectant used to proactively kill bacteria that can become

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First Phase of Water Main Replacement Project Nears Completion

On September 11, 2025   /   General Water Works News  

If you’ve driven down West Garfield or North Fillmore lately, you may have noticed Osceola Water Works making some big changes underground. The project, which began earlier this summer, focused on replacing the old cast iron water mains in the 200 block of West Garfield and the 600 block of North Fillmore with brand-new PVC pipe. This upgrade is a big step forward in improving the service reliability of Osceola’s water system. Looking at the project numbers, crews installed roughly 768 feet of new 6-inch water main, added two fire hydrants, six gate valves, and replaced ten service connections going

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Honoring Iowa’s Water and Wastewater Workers

On August 20, 2025   /   General Water Works News  

Most of us turn on the tap or flush the toilet without a second thought. Clean water flows in, wastewater flows out, and we go on about the day. But behind the scenes, there’s a hardworking and dedicated team making sure that happens every single day. That’s why Governor Kim Reynolds has once again proclaimed August 17–23, 2025, as Water and Wastewater Workers of Iowa Week. This marks the 15th year in a row the state has formally recognized the men and women who keep our water safe and our communities healthy. Across Iowa, water and wastewater operators work behind

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Osceola Water Works Announces Water Main Replacement Program

On July 16, 2025   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  

As part of ongoing efforts to improve and modernize Osceola’s water infrastructure, Osceola Water Works will begin the first of several planned water main replacement projects. This annual replacement program is designed to proactively tackle the community’s aging framework head-on. High-priority areas that have experienced repeated main breaks and service disruptions over the last several years will be the immediate focus. This year’s focus will be on the 200 Block of West Garfield Street and the 600 Block of North Fillmore Street.   The upcoming project will include the installation of approximately 768 feet of new 6-inch water main. Along with

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Osceola Water Works Response to Regional Water Restrictions

On June 18, 2025   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  

Recent headlines regarding water use restrictions across Central lowa may remind us of the Water Conservation restrictions that were in place in our community just a short time ago, due to drought and the quantity of water that was in West Lake, Osceola’s only source of water.  The restrictions issued by Central lowa Water Works (CIWW) are due to elevated nitrate levels in their primary water sources which are the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. The issue is not a lack of available water, but rather limitations on how much water can be treated to meet federal safety standards.  These

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