The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on Friday Des Moines Water Works could not seek monetary damages in a nutrients runoff lawsuit filed against 10 drainage districts in northwest Iowa. The federal lawsuit was filed in January 2015 against drainage districts in Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac Counties which are part of the Raccoon River watershed. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says the decision is a significant loss for Des Moines Water Works.
The court ruled that under state law, the drainage districts in northwest Iowa can’t be ordered to cover the costs of removing nitrates from rivers that are the source of drinking water. Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe says the utility will proceed with its federal lawsuit.
A federal judge has set June 28th as the date for the case to be heard in federal court.
