Image

RIVER STEM

Every year, Des Moines Water Works treats about 15 billion gallons of water from the Raccoon River and the shallow groundwater wells heavily influenced by it.

Water sourced from the Raccoon is consumed by approximately 500,000 people — around 17% of Iowa's population. In the Upper Midwest, only Lake Michigan, the Mississippi River, and the Missouri River supply water to more people from a surface water resource.

It is a critical water resource.