Osceola Water Works Announces Water Main Replacement Program

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

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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Final Call: Submit Your Water Line Info Before It’s Too Late

Osceola Water Works is issuing a final request to all customers: if you haven’t yet submitted information about your property’s water service lines, please do so before May 20, 2025.  The deadline to submit the EPA-mandated Lead Service Line Inventory is fast approaching, and once the report is finalized and submitted, no further properties can be added to the project list. Why This Matters to You The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised its Lead and Copper Rule, requiring all community water suppliers to complete a detailed inventory of lead service lines throughout their service area. This is a vital

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Revisiting West Lake Water Levels

As Osceola Water Works closely monitors the water levels at West Lake – Osceola, Iowa’s only water source, it’s important to reflect on the past and to keep the future of Osceola’s water supply in focus. This week’s lake level measured 1070.37 feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL), which is five feet higher than it was at this time last year – but is still more than two feet below full pool level at 1072.7 feet above MSL. In April, 2024, West Lake Level was at 1065.00 and Osceola was in Section 3 – Water Emergency – Restrictions of the

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Osceola Water Works Launches Customer Survey to Log Lead Lines

Osceola Water Works is required to complete an EPA-mandated water pipe inventory, and is asking for help from the community. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead-Copper Rule Revision mandates all community water suppliers, including Osceola Water Works, to develop a comprehensive Lead Service Line Inventory. Over the past 12 to 18 months, the Water Works team has worked to gather information on the age and pipe materials within the community, and the data collection is nearly complete. One of the final steps is an occupant-owner survey to clarify and complete the data collected. Customers of Osceola Water Works will soon

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Annual Hydrant Flushing Complete – Out With the Old in With the New

Osceola Water Works staff has finalized this year’s fire hydrant flushing with minimal water waste thanks to a local business. Over the past few weeks, Water Department employees made their way around the city and opened fire hydrants for a short period of time, allowing them to flow freely. By doing this, staff were able to perform routine maintenance on the hydrants, making sure they were in good working condition in case of a fire. This process also cleans out sediment that has settled in the water mains and is just one of the ways Osceola Water Works makes sure

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Osceola Water Works Customer Notification Regarding EPA Lead Service Line Inventory

Osceola Water Works is focused on providing safe drinking water and protecting the health of every household in our community.  In the coming days, some residents of the City of Osceola will receive a notification regarding their existing water pipe (called a service line) that connects the home, building or other structure to the water main.  This notification is being issued to property owners and tenants to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.  As part of the requirements of the 1986 Congressional Safe Drinking Water Act – Lead Ban, the Federal Government banned the installation of new lead

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Recent Rainfall Welcomed at the City of Osceola’s, Clarke County Water Source West Lake

After almost 4 years of drought across the state of Iowa, water levels in West Lake saw a reprieve in April and May with some welcomed rainfall. Osceola Water Works eased water restrictions on June 6, 2024.  But then in late July, water levels in West Lake began trending downward as the state of Iowa again started experiencing below average rainfall.  By September 13, 2024, much of the state was back in some form of drought. On August 14, 2024, Osceola Water Works partnered with Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) and completed some system improvements that allow SIRWA to

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NOTICE: Osceola Water Works Makes Switch from Chloramines to Free Chlorine

annual change to free chlorine

Starting on Monday, October 7, 2024 and continuing thru November 7, 2024, Osceola Water Works will make a temporary change in the disinfectant used in water treatment. Osceola’s annual switch from chloramines to free chlorine is a common practice in water treatment and OWW goes through the process every fall. Free chlorine is a stronger disinfectant than chloramine, but it cannot be used year-round because it creates byproducts that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The use of ammonia with chlorine – chloramines – reduces or eliminates these byproducts and helps Osceola Water Works continue to provide clean and safe

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A Positive Conservation Outlook, as Data Shows Lake Levels Holding Steady

osceola iowa west lake levels

Osceola Water Works and City Officials are sharing a positive outlook at trending lake levels in Osceola’s West Lake. With seasonal usage down and steady conservation commitment from the community and local businesses, engineering data, physical water level measurements in West Lake and more show levels stabilizing.

Click through to the latest to read more…

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