Investigation
What Does a Small Town Do When the Water Is Undrinkable?
Nitrate pollution is straining small water facilities in Iowa, even when they have advanced filtration systems.
Climate•8 min read
Water
Feature
Stretched Thin, Iowa Agency Issues Few Fines for Manure Pollution
The Department of Natural Resources division responsible for environmental oversight of 8,000 CAFOs hasn’t received a budget increase since 2016.
Climate•9 min read
Feature
Factory Farms in Iowa Generate 110 Billion Pounds of Manure Per Year. No One Tracks Where It’s Going.
Manure management planning could prevent fertilizer pollution. But an antiquated system isn’t doing enough to track manure, a former state employee says.
Climate•9 min read
News
EXCLUSIVE: Clean Water Advocate Chris Jones Takes Step Toward Iowa Agriculture Secretary Run
“I think we need to rethink agriculture,” the professor-turned-advocate tells Sentient.
Climate•2 min read
News
Water Pollution Fight in Iowa Hits a Snag as EPA Removes Rivers from ‘Impaired’ List
Iowa clean water advocates criticized the EPA’s move to reverse a decision adding seven Iowa river segments to the state’s impaired waters list.
Climate•6 min read
Feature
Des Moines Banned Lawn Watering, but Polluted Tap Water Keeps Flowing: Inside Iowa’s Nitrate Problem
Amid rising cancer rates, citizens are demanding Governor Reynolds take more meaningful action.
Climate•9 min read
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Sentient investigates and explains factory farms and their effect on climate, the environment, animals, health, politics and rural communities.