KTIV REPORTS: Financial support for counties involved in drainage lawsuit

July 29, 2015
 
PRIMGHAR, Iowa -

"It's important that we support one another," says O'Brien County Supervisor James DeBoom. O'Brien County Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to financially assist Sac, Buena Vista and Calhoun Counties in the lawsuit. They agreed to contribute $5,000 to the legal defense of the three counties. The money will come from this year's generals funds budget, which already includes a line item for legal fees.

The lawsuit was filed by Des Moines Water Works who serves around 500,000 customers in central Iowa. The CEO says they've spent more than $1.5 million since December to denitrify the water to keep it within safe drinking limits. He says farm drainage tiles in the three northwest Iowa counties are to blame for the high nitrate levels.

If a settlement is not reached, the lawsuit will go to court in August of next year.

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