As the Osceola Water Works team continues to provide updates to our community about drought conditions and guide customers in efforts to help conserve water, we’ve provided additional information in the form of video to help better illustrate the severity of the our ongoing drought situation.

In the video below, you’ll see a bird’s-eye view of how water levels and shorelines have been impacted in Osceola’s West Lake reservoir. This video was taken on October 10th of 2023 and shows water levels as they recede from the spillway just south of the water treatment plant. It’s been more than three years since water has breached the spillway at West Lake. With a drier than normal Spring and Summer, this year, the levels continued to drop and could soon impact the treatment plant’s intake levels. This will also create additional challenges for the Osceola Water Work’s team’s and their ability to efficiently and cost-effectively treat the raw water.

At this time, efforts include asking all customers, residential, commercial, and industrial, to conserve water at all costs.

As a reminder. on October 5th, 2023, Osceola Water Works Board of Trustees implemented Section 3 – Water Emergency from the Osceola Water Works Conservation Ordinance. Under these conditions and until further notice, no Osceola Water customer shall use municipal water service in any manner contrary to the guidelines outlined in the ordinance. To read the ordinance in its entirety, please click on the link below.

If you have questions or would like more information on the Osceola Water Works Conservation Plan or services provided through Osceola Water Works, please contact Brandon Patterson, Water Superintendent at the Osceola Water Works, 208 W Jefferson St, Osceola, IA 50213, phone: (641) 342-1435, email: osceolawater2@windstream.net.