Osceola Water Works Addresses Water Quality and Lake Turnover

On January 14, 2026   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  
water taste and smell in osceola iowa

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  

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

On October 7, 2024   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  
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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Water Works Team Addresses Water Quality at Lower Levels

On November 13, 2023   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates, Newsletters  

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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NOTICE: Watch for Water Works Annual Treatment Change

On October 6, 2017   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  
water treatment, fire hydrant

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

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Late Algae Bloom Hits Osceola Water Works

On November 21, 2016   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  
late algae bloom, algae bloom treatment, osceola water works

West Lake, which supplies water to the city of Osceola, is experiencing late season algae issues, requiring increased treatment and causing a change in the treatment needs of the city’s drinking water. Osceola Water Works crews detected a large algae bloom in West Lake on November 7, prompting a necessary late treatment of West Lake. An algae bloom of this size and scope is exceptionally unusual for this time of year, with mid-September being the standard last algae treatment needed. Some customers may have noticed a change in the taste of the water, but the Osceola Water Works department acted

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NOTICE: Water Works Annual Treatment Change

On September 21, 2016   /   General Water Works News, Important Water Works Updates  
fire hydrant maintenance, fire hydrant flushing

Starting in October, Osceola Water Works will begin transitioning to winter maintenance and will be making a change in the treatment process. Residents may notice a difference, but will have no cause for concern. In early October, the water works department will begin the annual fire hydrant flushing program. This process is a way to perform routine maintenance on the hydrants and to clean out sediment 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 slight discoloration or trace amounts of sediment in

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Washing Your Car Causes Dirty Water

On May 12, 2016   /   General Water Works News  
washing your car

Washing your car in your driveway on a warm spring or summer day is a rite of passage and a task many drivers look forward to all year. But most people aren’t aware of the damage they’re doing by washing their vehicles in their own paved driveways. Did you know that washing the grime off your car can actually damage Iowa water quality and aquatic life? You’re not only cleaning off dirt, bugs and dust.  The water that runs down your driveway and into the storm drains also contains heavy metal from rust, brake linings, motor oil, gasoline, residue from

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Osceola Water Works Addresses Customer Concerns Regarding Flint Michigan Lead Issues

On April 18, 2016   /   General Water Works News  
osceola water works board members, osceola water works clean water taste and odor

Recent news stories about the dangerous water in Flint, Michigan may have raised some questions for customers of Osceola Water Works. How does lead get into drinking water? What are the health effects of lead in drinking water? How safe is MY drinking water? We would like to provide some answers and ease any concerns. What happened in Flint, Michigan? The city of Flint used to get its water from Detroit, which draws its water directly from the Great Lakes. In an effort to save money, Flint opted to draw their water from the Flint River. While lead isn’t necessarily

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OSCEOLA WATER WORKS DOUBLES UP FOR BETTER TASTE AND QUALITY

On March 8, 2016   /   General Water Works News  
water filtration, osceola water quality, water filters

In the continuing effort to provide Osceola residents with clean, great-tasting water as well as keeping costs low, Osceola Water Works has stepped up their filtering schedule, with the a round of change-outs that took place from March 8th through the 11th. One of the main issues the Water Works Department has been faced with in recent years is the taste and odor of the drinking water in Osceola. Part of the arsenal being used to fight this problem is the carbon filtering system already in place. There are 8 filters that use granular activated carbon (GAC). Because their surfaces become

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