Despite rain, water table level lower than pre-drought conditions
/DMU keeps Water Watch in place
Although Denison has received substantial rainfall (11.95 inches since April 1) and the U.S. Drought Monitor map shows no drought for Crawford County (as well as much of Iowa), the water table levels at the Denison Municipal Utilities wells are far less than pre-drought conditions, and DMU is keeping the Water Watch conservation measure in place.
DMU General Manager Rory Weis pointed out that the drought monitor map does not show water table levels, but he did have some good news. In the past month the water table level improved by about a two-foot average over all of DMU’s wells.
A chart displayed at Monday’s DMU Board meeting showed that currently, the water table level is 34.6 feet from the ground down to the water.
That is a 5.9-foot difference compared to the pre-drought water table measured in 2018, when the level was 28.7 feet.
Since the measurements are taken from the ground down to the water, a lower number equates to a higher water table level.
“We have a ways to go yet,” said Weis.
The Water Watch has been in place continuously since last June.
The watch encourages DMU water customers to limit or curtail all non-essential uses of water.
As a reminder, the following are conservation measures that customers are asked to comply with.
No watering of lawns, shrubs or gardens between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.
No water should be used to fill private swimming pools or any other outdoor pool or pond.
No water should be used for non-essential cleaning of commercial and industrial equipment, machinery and interior spaces.
No water shall be used to wash streets, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks or building exteriors.
Water should be served at restaurants only upon the request of the customer.
The rainfall amount listed at the beginning of this story was reported by State Climatologist Justin Glisan, based on measurements at the Denison airport. Glisan noted that the 30-year average amount of rainfall for Denison is 10.9 inches.
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