Celebrating Osceola’s Water and Wastewater Workers

On August 26, 2026   /   General Water Works News  
Celebrating Osceola’s Water and Wastewater Workers

When you pour a glass of water, wash the dishes, or flush the toilet, you probably don’t stop to think about everything that makes those everyday conveniences possible. During Water and Wastewater Workers of Iowa Week, August 23–29, 2026, Osceola Water Works is proud to recognize the hardworking team of professionals who keep our water systems safe and reliable. Behind the scenes, Osceola’s water and wastewater professionals work to make daily modern life possible. They help protect the health of our community by making sure drinking water is safe and wastewater is properly treated. This treatment also helps protect Iowa’s

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Celebrating Excellence: Osceola Water Treatment Plant Foreman Earns Iowa’s Highest Water Treatment License

On July 28, 2026   /   General Water Works News  
Celebrating Excellence: Osceola Water Treatment Plant Foreman Earns Iowa’s Highest Water Treatment License

At Osceola Water Works, providing safe, reliable drinking water is our highest priority. That commitment is made possible by the dedicated professionals who work hard every day to serve our community. We are proud to recognize Osceola Water Treatment Plant Foreman Cory Gallup for obtaining the Grade IV Iowa DNR Water Treatment Operator license, the highest level of water treatment certification offered by the State of Iowa. Achieving a Grade IV certification represents years of hands-on experience, education, and dedication to the water industry. Candidates must complete extensive training and pass a rigorous state examination covering advanced water treatment processes, state

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Osceola Water Board Expands Nitrate Testing to Ensure Safe Drinking Water

On July 21, 2026   /   General Water Works News  
Osceola Water Board Expands Nitrate Testing to Ensure Safe Drinking Water

In response to ongoing concerns surrounding water quality in the Des Moines area, the Osceola Water Board voted last week to reaffirm its commitment to providing customers with safe, high quality drinking water by increasing the frequency of nitrate sampling at the Osceola water treatment facility. Beginning immediately, the Osceola Water Works treatment plant staff will conduct weekly in-house nitrate testing to closely monitor changing conditions as well as submitting additional samples to the Iowa DNR for certified laboratory analysis on a quarterly basis. Providing safe, reliable drinking water is our top priority,” said Brandon Patterson, Osceola Water Works Superintendent.

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Nitrates: What It Means for Osceola’s Drinking Water

On March 10, 2026   /   General Water Works News  
Nitrates: What It Means for Osceola’s Drinking Water

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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Osceola Water Works Addresses Water Quality and Lake Turnover

On January 14, 2026   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  
Osceola Water Works Addresses Water Quality and Lake Turnover

Osceola Water Works has confirmed that West Lake, the source of Osceola’s drinking water, recently experienced a natural process known as lake turnover. This seasonal event can temporarily affect the taste and odor of drinking water, even though the water remains safe to consume. Lake turnover is the process of a lake’s water mixing from top to bottom. It happens naturally, most often in the fall and spring, when air temperatures fluctuate. During summer, lake water forms a top layer that is warm and heated by the sun and a bottom layer that is colder, darker, and denser. As temperatures

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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  
Osceola Water Works Makes Annual Transition to Free Chlorine

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  
First Phase of Water Main Replacement Project Nears Completion

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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Osceola Water Works Customer Notification Regarding EPA Lead Service Line Inventory

On November 12, 2024   /   General Water Works News  
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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NOTICE: Osceola Water Works Makes Switch from Chloramines to Free Chlorine

On October 7, 2024   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  
NOTICE: Osceola Water Works Makes Switch from Chloramines 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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Water Works Team Addresses Water Quality at Lower Levels

On November 13, 2023   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates, Newsletters  
Water Works Team Addresses Water Quality at Lower Levels

With the lower levels of water in West Lake, quality challenges have become more apparent and require a change in the disinfection process. To help mitigate bacteria and other issues at lower levels in West Lake, a free-chlorine disinfection process will begin.

Click through to learn what you can do about the changes in your water…

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