When pollution gets bad enough in the rivers supplying Iowa's largest city with drinking water, it costs Des Moines around $16,000 a day to run a special system to filter out dangerous nitrates. It's a fact of life in the agriculture-dependent state — and climate change is making the water quality problem even worse.
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University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations on March 12 in Bridport, Vt.
A field used for corn silage on Blue Spruce Farm is pictured on March 24 in Bridport, Vt.
Runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations sit in holders on March 12 in Bridport, Vt.
Dairy cows feed at Blue Spruce Farm on March 28 in Bridport, Vt.
Photos: Warmer winters lead to more water pollution
Joshua Faulkner, left, research associate professor and director of the Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab at the University of Vermont, and graduate student Delaney Bullock check on flumes used to collect runoff from two agriculture fields for analysis on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart) (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)
Canada Geese wade in the waters and ice of Lake Champlain on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Addison, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)
Runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations sit in holders on March 12 in Bridport, Vt.
Dairy cows feed at Blue Spruce Farm on March 28 in Bridport, Vt.
University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations on March 12 in Bridport, Vt.
University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)
University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)
University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)
A field used for corn silage on Blue Spruce Farm is pictured on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Bridport, Vt. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)
A field used for corn silage on Blue Spruce Farm is pictured on March 24 in Bridport, Vt.
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