Rewriting Iowa's Water Quality Story with Des Moines and Central Iowa Water Works, Rebekah Jones and Patrick White

August 4, 2026

August is National Water Quality Month, and we are celebrating by exploring an often-overlooked part of Iowa's water story: urban and rural collaboration.This episode follows Iowa's water upstream — from the treatment plant in Des Moines to the farm and back again — through conversations with the people working to rewrite Iowa's water quality story.

We start with Tami Madsen of Central Iowa Water Works and Amy Kahler of Des Moines Water Works to unpack the challenges of providing safe drinking water for a growing region. Their conversation breaks down the water treatment process and the role everyone plays in protecting Iowa's water.

Then, Rebekah Jones of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance discusses how conservation looks different on every farm and the tools helping producers get started. Discover how businesses and commodity organizations are supporting Iowa's water quality through farmer-centric programs.

We close with Patrick White, a northwest Iowa farmer whose family's long-term investment in soil health shows how conservation can strengthen both the land and the bottom line while enhancing water quality for all Iowans.

This episode of The Bean Scene is brought to you by the Iowa Soybean Association and the soybean checkoff.

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