Iowa's Water Quality and Cancer Rates Emerge as Key Campaign Issues

Iowa, a state facing economic pressures, is now confronting long-standing issues of water quality and elevated cancer rates, which have become central themes in its midterm election campaigns.

These issues, historically sensitive due to the powerful agricultural industry, are now subjects of debate questions, candidate forums, and campaign advertisements across the political spectrum. The state is a major producer of corn, soybeans, and hogs, and runoff from chemical fertilizers and animal waste contaminates its rivers with nitrates and phosphorus.

This problem has historically created tension between Iowa's urban centers, reliant on river water for drinking, and its conservative farming communities. While farmers are increasingly adopting runoff prevention practices, critics argue that a lack of regulation places the burden of pollution cleanup on downstream residents. The spotlight on these issues has intensified following consecutive years of water use restrictions in the Des Moines area and a growing health-focused movement in rural communities.

Iowa has the second-highest rate of new cancer diagnoses in the U.S., with certain cancers like prostate, breast, and lung cancer increasing faster than the national average in both urban and rural areas. Initial state-funded research at the University of Iowa suggests that while demographic and behavioral factors like smoking and binge drinking contribute to some of these rates, environmental factors, including nitrate levels, are also being examined.

Candidates are directly addressing the water quality concerns. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek stated, "The real issue is the water and the nitrates. Every Iowan deserves when they turn on the tap to ensure that their water is clean and not giving them cancer." While some studies suggest a link between nitrates in drinking water and certain diseases, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently does not classify nitrates as a cancer risk, though a review of this classification has faced repeated delays.

Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson has convened discussions on water issues, emphasizing the need for infrastructure investment, monitoring, and conservation programs, while asserting that tap water meets federal safety regulations. She stated, "We all know that we have some challenges here in Iowa. I don't think water quality is a partisan issue."

More than a decade ago, the Des Moines area's water utility sued upstream counties to share the cost of nitrate removal, a lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed, drawing celebration from Iowa's Republican leadership. Last year, Central Iowa Water Works implemented its first-ever lawn watering ban to alleviate pressure on its nitrate removal facilities. Governor Kim Reynolds and state lawmakers recently allocated an additional $320 million for water infrastructure and conservation initiatives.

"Water quality isn't a farm issue. It isn't a city issue, and it isn't a political issue," Reynolds said. "But it absolutely is non-negotiable."

Despite these efforts, some candidates running for governor criticize the pace of progress. Republican Zach Lahn has linked polluted water and agrochemicals to Iowa's cancer rates, while Democrat Rob Sand emphasizes prioritizing the water problem. Neither candidate has called for mandated conservation practices for farmers.

Federal regulations set the maximum nitrate level in drinking water at 10 milligrams per liter, a standard established to prevent blue baby syndrome. However, ongoing research is exploring the relationship between nitrate levels below this threshold and certain cancers. Central Iowa Water Works operated its nitrate removal treatment for a record 193 days this year, with treated water's nitrate levels remaining around eight to nine milligrams per liter during peak summer.

Rob Sand frequently highlights water quality in his campaign speeches, citing his concern for clean water as a reason for his Democratic affiliation. He noted observing a rise in public consciousness regarding the issue, stating, "I hear from people regularly who are so concerned about it that they wonder whether or not they want to be in Iowa."

Chris Jones, a former research scientist, observed a significant shift in public awareness, recalling a time when his reports on nitrate levels were met with less urgency. "Now, the outrage has arrived," he said.

Jones, running for Iowa's secretary of agriculture against incumbent Republican Mike Naig, advocates for mandatory conservation solutions. Naig, who previously worked for Monsanto, counters that such mandates are opposed by the agricultural industry due to potential profit losses and the complexities of land ownership. He points to his department's conservation efforts as evidence of progress, stating, "It's been a hot topic on the campaign trail, but we have to have a long view of these things, and we're making progress."