en.Wedoany.com Reported - The central Iowa city of Boone plans to drill a new well to ensure nitrate levels in the local tap water remain below federal drinking water standards after a dairy processing plant begins operations.
The city has released an environmental impact report for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan project. The report states that after the Daisy Brand production facility is built on Boone's east side, it will significantly reduce the city's operational flexibility in managing nitrate concentrations through its existing system. In May 2025, sour cream and cottage cheese manufacturer Daisy Brand broke ground in Boone on a 750,000-square-foot factory. Under incentives from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Daisy Brand received $7 million in direct financial assistance and tax breaks. The company stated the facility represents a planned investment of $626.5 million and will begin operations in 2028, employing over 250 people.
Boone currently draws water from shallow wells along the Des Moines River. The water treatment plant controls nitrate levels by rotating wells to blend "raw water," keeping them below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter for drinking water. However, the city lacks a dedicated nitrate removal system. The report notes that nitrate levels in the Des Moines River are trending upward, increasing the difficulty for the city to maintain water quality compliance while meeting demand.
To meet the treated water supply for the Daisy Brand facility, scheduled to begin in 2028, the city plans to upgrade service pumps and expand the sodium hypochlorite dosing system. Boone currently has a daily water storage capacity of 4.3 million gallons, but average daily demand is projected to reach 4.8 million gallons by 2044. The report recommends increasing storage capacity to 5.1 million gallons. Additionally, the rapid water demand from the Daisy Brand facility will place significant pressure on the distribution system, prompting the city to plan for a new elevated storage tank.
According to Boone's Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Plan, the cost of the new water tower is estimated at $4.14 million, and the new well at $3.8 million. The water tower will be built near the Daisy Brand facility and equipped with a mixer to improve water quality and meet future average daily demand. Other water treatment and storage facility upgrades are planned through 2030, with total estimated costs exceeding $12 million. Funding will come from grants, water revenue bonds, and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan.
The new well will be drilled in an area historically characterized by low nitrate concentrations, which will provide the city with greater flexibility in blending raw water. The report recommends that, given the potential for elevated nitrate levels in raw water, the city should further study nitrate treatment alternatives. City council members indicated at a July 6 meeting that options have been considered, including a biological treatment system that converts nitrates in water into nitrogen gas, but such systems are costly.
