Osceola Water Works (OWW) and the customers they serve faced a number of unprecedented challenges in 2020. While it was understandably a tough year, there were also a number of positives to look back on as 2021 planning starts. The weather at the start of the year was a little uncooperative, but that didn’t keep OWW from completing the water tower rehabilitation project. Through high winds and rain, even some snow, much-needed water tower repairs, cleaning, and painting were all part of the Board’s efforts to provide a source of clean and safe water to the community. Ultimately, they were
More from My Water Works →Osceola Water Works Did Not Meet Treatment Requirements Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did to correct this situation. We routinely monitor your water for turbidity (cloudiness). This tells us whether we are effectively filtering the water supply. Water samples for the month of September showed that 25 percent of turbidity measurements were over 0.3 turbidity units – the standard is that no more than 5 percent of samples may exceed 0.3 turbidity
More from My Water Works →It seems to be an annual occurrence. As soon as the heat of late summer hits, surface water sources around the midwest become victims of algae blooms, causing treatment challenges for municipalities and water departments and giving citizens concern for their water quality. In Osceola’s West Lake, the algae blooms have been increasingly difficult in the past few years. That, along with ageing filtration system challenges, has the Osceola Water Works team working hard to keep treatments ahead of the issue. Finally, after some engineering research and guidance from the DNR, they believe the issue can be addressed with some
More from My Water Works →As the state of Iowa looks at reopening businesses after an extended COVID-19 shutdown, there are a number of preparation steps to be taken to ensure the safety of employees and customers. One thing that may not be top of mind for many people is the condition of the building’s water system. Prolonged shutdown or reduced operation such as those experienced during this pandemic may impact the water quality in commercial businesses, including schools, daycares, and beauty salons, just to name a few. Along with potential microbial hazards, the stagnant water may have produced disinfectant by-products, metals leaching into the
More from My Water Works →The 2019 Water Quality Report for Osceola Water Works has been released. This report contains important information regarding the water quality on the Osceola Water Works system. To read the details of this year’s report, click the report image and you will be able to open and download or print a PDF of the report. If you have questions, please contact the Osceola Water Works offices through our website contact page or by calling: 641-342-1435.
More from My Water Works →Due to recent updates with the Osceola Water Works online bill payment and processing system, there have been some changes to where online payments are received. Those changes have been made on the Osceola Water Works web site, but it has been brought to the attention of Water Works staff and board members that some customers may still be trying to pay their bills through the old online link. “We have seen some notifications through the new payment system that customers are not accessing the bill payment site through our Web site” said Brandon Patterson, Osceola Water Works Superintendent. Patterson
More from My Water Works →In an effort to continue providing bill paying services through online card processing, as well as to offset service fees of over $7,500 annually to the utility customers, Osceola Water Works will be instating a convenience fee of 2.65% for each customer making their water utility payment with a debit or credit card. This fee will be applied to the billing program at the end of the day on December 27, 2019. Access to a new payment portal through the OsceolaWaterWorks.com web site will reflect the changes on the same date. Since its inception, fees for card processing were absorbed
More from My Water Works →NOTICE OF HEARING AND LETTING Sealed bids will be received by the Osceola Water Works at 208 West Jefferson Street, Osceola, IA 50213, until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 for the following described public improvement: DOWNTOWN WATER TOWER REHABILITATION OSCEOLA WATER WORKS OSCEOLA, IOWA HDR PROJECT NO. 10125002 At the above time and place all bids received by the Water Works will be opened and publicly read with the results being reported to the Osceola Water Works Board of Trustees (Owner) at their meeting on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at which time the Owner may
More from My Water Works →Starting in October, Osceola Water Works will begin transitioning to winter maintenance and will be making a change in the water treatment process. While residents may notice a difference, there will be no cause for alarm. In early October, the water works department will begin their annual fire hydrant flushing program. This process allows OWW to perform routine maintenance on the hydrants and to clean out sediment that has settled in the water mains. Department employees will open the fire hydrants and allow them to flow freely for a short period of time. Residents may notice a slight discoloration or trace amounts
More from My Water Works →With a dry Spring and little to no measurable rain in June and July, Brandon Patterson, Osceola Water Works Superintendent is looking at West Lake water levels with an impatient eye. While recent rains have helped green up a few lawns, water main breaks from the dry, cracking ground continue, not to mention the damage already done to crops and grazing land around Osceola and Clarke County has made an impact. We’ve seen dry seasons like this in the past, and like in 2012, the last serious drought Clarke County had in recent years, this looks like the start of
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