To the Members of the Iowa Legislature:

We, the undersigned, call on the Iowa Legislature to pass the Iowa Healthy Water Act during the 2026 legislative session.

Iowans deserve healthy drinking water and cleaner rivers and lakes. Clean water is essential to our families’ health, our agricultural economy, and the future of our state. Protecting water quality is preventive health care — reducing cancer risks and other serious health concerns while strengthening our communities and keeping costs down in the long run.

The Iowa Healthy Water Act is a comprehensive, collaborative plan that works in partnership with farmers and communities across Iowa. It is built around bold solutions, accountability, and measurable results, without shifting higher costs onto consumers.

The plan includes:

1. A $600,000 Statewide Water Monitoring Program
Establish a robust, transparent water monitoring system with a public statewide dashboard. This includes comprehensive testing and state-led monitoring through Regent institutions, including the Iowa Flood Center, to track progress and ensure accountability.

2. Tripling Funding for Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy
Increase state funding from $10 million to $30 million to scale up proven practices that reduce nitrate runoff, including wetlands, buffer strips, bioreactors, and cover crops.

3. Clean Water Tax Credits for Farmers
Provide tax credits to farmers who implement best management practices that improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff.

4. Iowa Clean Water Certification Program
Create a voluntary certification program offering a $5.00 per acre property tax credit for farms that follow approved nutrient management plans and adopt strategies from the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

5. Iowa Water Quality Loan Program
Offer zero-interest loans for equipment that improves water quality, supporting advances in precision agriculture technology.

Clean water is not a partisan issue, it is a public health issue, an economic issue, and a quality-of-life issue. We urge lawmakers to pass the Iowa Healthy Water Act and invest in proven solutions that protect our water for future generations.

Sign below to support the Iowa Healthy Water Act and stand up for clean water in Iowa.