PRINCETON, IA – An Iowa community is facing a critical water crisis after spending nearly $800,000 on a new backup well and water tower, only to discover the water contains dangerous, undrinkable levels of nitrate.
Immediate Shutdown After High Nitrate Tests
The City of Princeton commissioned the new well to replace an older backup system that was permanently closed in 2009 due to long-term nitrate violations. However, problems emerged almost immediately.
Initial mechanical issues with an oversized pump caused months of water-main breaks. Subsequent testing revealed that the water exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) legal limits. The town was forced to shut the well down after a spike of 12.1 milligrams of nitrate per liter—well above the federal safety limit of 10 milligrams. Since then, levels have continued to climb, peaking near 16 milligrams per liter.
The Health Risks and Financial Burden
Nitrate contamination is a severe health hazard, particularly for infants and pregnant individuals.
Currently, the town’s 350 households and businesses are entirely dependent on a single main well. If engineers cannot locate and repair a physical crack in the well’s casing to stop the contamination, Princeton may be forced to install a reverse osmosis filtration system. This upgrade could cost over $1 million—an expense the small town simply cannot afford without heavy borrowing and skyrocketing water bills.
Local Conservation Efforts Fall Short
The issue highlights a growing crisis across Iowa, where agricultural runoff from fertilizer and manure heavily pollutes local water systems.
To combat this, Princeton officials paid nearby landowners to stop using fertilizer on 25 acres surrounding the well. However, leadership admits the strategy is failing.
“I would say the data shows that we haven’t moved the needle much,” said Mayor Travis Volrath. “It has gently trended down, but not far enough to matter.”
Public Works Foreman Chris Rindler emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that leaving 1,000 residents without a reliable backup water source is “not an option.” State geologists warn that Princeton’s struggle is part of a much larger regional environmental issue.
