Creston water learns of SIRWA plant date

Creston Waterworks General Manager Steve Guthrie informed his board Tuesday the water-providing agreement with Southern Iowa Rural Water Association will end Jan. 21, 2024.

Since fall 2021, SIRWA has been constructing its own water treatment facility east of Creston along U.S. Highway 34 in view of Creston Waterworks plant at 12 Mile Lake. Creston Waterworks has been providing water for SIRWA and its approximate 11,600 customers. As part of its agreement, SIRWA was paying Creston about 75% of the expenses for water production. That eventually influenced SIRWA to plan and build its own plant. SIRWA will use 3 Mile Lake.

Because of an arbitrated agreement on its contract, SIRWA will pay Creston Water $1.55 million within 30 days of ending the contract, according to Guthrie.

In a related matter, the board was informed of the state’s permit for Creston Waterworks to use 12 Mile Lake at 7,800 gallons per minute. Guthrie said the annual maximum amount for the permit is 1.1 billion gallons which he said Creston will not reach. The permit does allow Creston Water to act as a backup for SIRWA. Both entities are working on details of a mutual aid agreement, specifically for emergency situations.

Guthrie said the new in-take infrastructure for 12 Mile Lake has been installed and is being used, a project of the past two years. Guthrie said he is still researching the problem that is causing a shortage of the amount of water produced. The desired amount is about 4,500 gallons a minute but the process is only making 4,100 gallons. Guthrie said there are still adequate amounts of water produced, but there were stresses on the system during the high-heat days in late July.

Guthrie said replacing carbon filters did not increase the amount. He is waiting for additional devices later this month to further research the flow of water through the system.

Guthrie said recent rains have noticeably increased water amounts in the lakes. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is planning to lower the water level in Three Mile this year as part of a lake rehabilitation program.