Statewide Iowa — A University of Iowa environmental engineering professor says it will take ten billion dollars to address the state’s water quality issues and reduce the likelihood of flooding.
Larry Weber conducts research on flooding and water quality.
Weber says the 2023 Farm Bill could include rules to reduce farm run off that would apply not just to Iowa farmers, but to all US ag operations.
Weber says the drought in much of Iowa will have an impact on water quality, too, since corn and soybean plants in dry soil are not absorbing as much of the commercial fertilizer and manure that’s been applied to fields.
Some Iowa utilities that provide drinking water use surface water from rivers, but about 75 percent of Iowans get their drinking water from underground supplies.
Weber made his comments this weekend on “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS.
