Politics
Des Moines Implements New Environmental Standards for Water Quality and Energy Usage
City officials are enforcing updated water quality protections and building energy reporting requirements to meet regional environmental goals.
How we reported this
The City of Des Moines is actively managing its environmental footprint through a combination of water quality protections and energy efficiency mandates that impact local property owners and developers. Recent municipal policy focuses on maintaining water safety in the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers, where nitrate levels have neared the 9 parts per million mark, according to official records. To stay below the 10 parts per million legal limit established by the Environmental Protection Agency for safe drinking water, the city has implemented restrictions on lawn watering.
These environmental initiatives are further supported by the ADAPT DSM plan, which outlines a series of climate goals for the city. Under this framework, the municipal government aims for a 28 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, with a long-term target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. These goals influence how the city regulates infrastructure development and utility usage within the urban area.
For local property owners and businesses, the city enforces an Energy and Water Use Benchmarking Ordinance. This regulation requires owners of municipal, commercial, and multifamily buildings that exceed 25,000 square feet to submit annual data regarding their energy and water usage. This transparency measure is intended to help the city track resource consumption across its building stock.
Development projects in Des Moines must also adhere to specific standards regarding water management. The city mandates the use of the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual for site plans and grading permits. These requirements ensure that new construction projects are designed to handle stormwater effectively, which remains a key component of the city's broader environmental planning strategy.
Beyond municipal building and water standards, regional air quality is managed through Polk County. The Board of Health maintains EPA-approved air pollution control regulations, specifically under the Board of Health Rules and Regulations, Air Pollution Chapter V. These rules represent the regulatory framework for managing air quality and emissions within the county, providing a consistent standard for industrial and commercial operations to follow.