Hundreds packed a Drake University auditorium for the first public presentation of a million-dollar Polk County-commissioned report that linked Iowa's agricultural practices to widespread water pollution. The study, known as the Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment, involved 17 scientists who invested more than 4,000 hours analyzing the Des Moines and Raccoon river watersheds. It came amid an unprecedented summer marked by Central Iowa Water Works imposing — and then gradually lifting — a mandatory lawn-watering ban affecting 600,000 customers due to nitrate pollution. The conclusion presented on Monday, Aug. 4 by four of the scientists who worked on the report was clear: agriculture is the primary driver of pollution, particularly nitrates, creating ongoing risks to public health, recreation and economic well-being in Iowa. Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #Iowa #IApolitics #DesMoines #nitrate #water #drinkingwater