Poweshiek Water Association

Poweshiek Water Association Municipal Water Report Info

The History of Poweshiek Water Association

The initial community meeting took place on July 7, 1977, at the Malcom Auditorium in Malcom, Iowa, with approximately 100 residents participating. A governing board of 13 members was selected at the subsequent meeting. Poweshiek Water was officially incorporated in mid-1978.

Bartlett and West Engineers, Inc., from Topeka, Kansas, was hired in March 1978 to design the system and submit an application for FmHA funding. The project received funding approval in April 1983, and the Brooklyn office opened in August of that year.

In January 1984, the Association changed its organizational status from a 504A non-profit to a 357A Public Body. Following Iowa Code requirements, the board size was reduced from thirteen to nine members. Construction bids were accepted in March 1984 for the distribution system and towers, with plant and well bids following in June 1984. The initial project was completed on July 26, 1985.

Groundbreaking for the treatment facility occurred on October 6, 1984, and water production began on September 10, 1985. The original system served approximately 1,300 individual connections, supplying water to Barnes City, Guernsey, and Gibson communities across Poweshiek, Tama, Iowa, Keokuk, Mahaska, and Jasper counties.

Today at Poweshiek Water Association

Currently, PWA serves counties including Poweshiek, Tama, Iowa, Keokuk, Mahaska, Jasper, Benton, Linn, Johnson, Marshall, and Black Hawk, supplying water to 7,300 individual connections. Communities receiving PWA water include Guernsey, Gibson, Vining, Luzene, Thornburg, Searsboro, Malcom, Buckingham, Dinsdale, Irving, Watkins, Barnes City, Clutier, Hickory Hollow, Millersburg, Dysart, Brooklyn, Chelsea, Elberon, Norway, Deep River, Conroy, Van Horne, and Holiday Lake.

Treatment Facilities

PWA operates two treatment facilities - one located 3 miles south of Tama on Highway 63, and another on 220th Trail near South Amana. The Tama Plant uses lime softening technology with 14 alluvial wells, producing up to 2,800,000 gallons daily with 5-7 grains of hardness. The Amana Plant employs reverse osmosis technology, treating water to 4-5 grains of hardness using two vertical and two edge wells, with capacity for 800,000 gallons daily and expansion potential.

Additionally, PWA has an agreement to purchase up to 1,600,000 gallons daily from Cedar Rapids. This water is lime-softened to 7-8 grains of hardness. Water quality is routinely monitored according to Federal and State regulations, with annual reports available online and upon request.

Storage and Distribution

The system includes 13 water towers throughout the service area. Storage capacity at the Tama plant is 900,000 gallons, while the Amana plant holds 400,000 gallons. PWA maintains approximately 3,200 miles of water lines and has emergency connections available with Grinnell, Traer, Parnell, Montezuma, and Central Iowa Water Association. The organization also maintains sewer systems for Conroy, Millersburg, Watkins, and Barnes City.