Des Moines, IA — Today, amidst mounting calls for action to address Iowa’s rising cancer rates and worsening water pollution, Senator Art Staed introduced the Clean Water for Iowa Act (SF 183), with 7 Senate cosponsors, endorsed by Food & Water Watch. A House bill, sponsored by Representative Monica Kurth is expected this week.

A new Food & Water Watch report, also released today, outlines the human impact of unregulated factory farm water pollution on public health, recreation and water bills. The Clean Water for Iowa Act would address the industry’s pollution by requiring water pollution permits and monitoring at more than 4,000 medium and large factory farms currently operating in Iowa without pollution oversight.

Iowa’s factory farms produce more nitrate-, pesticide- and antibiotic-ridden factory farm waste than any other state in the country, much of which lands in waterways. A Food & Water Watch analysis released last month found that Iowa factory farms were penalized less than $750K for 10 years of consistent, illegal water pollution.

Senator Art Staed said: “The Clean Water for Iowa Act is critical legislation with a simple premise — holding industrial agriculture polluters accountable. Factory farm waste is a serious threat to our water and health. We need to be proactive in preventing spills from occurring, by requiring close monitoring at factory farms. I encourage my colleagues to support the Clean Water for Iowa Act to reign in the waste in our water.”

Representative Monica Kurth said: “Our water and our soil are among Iowa’s most precious natural resources and we need to amplify our efforts to protect them! We have to know that proper steps are being taken to protect our drinking water, our agricultural waters, and our recreational waters for our generation and our future generations.”

Food & Water Watch Iowa Organizer Michaelyn Mankel said: “For too long, Iowa’s factory farms have been permitted to pollute with abandon. Governor Reynolds and the Iowa legislature must stand up for our water and our health by passing the Clean Water for Iowa Act.”

Food & Water Watch Volunteer Nick Schutt, whose family has struggled with cancer diagnoses they tie to agricultural pollution in their water, is among the Iowa residents profiled in the report. He said: “Living in Iowa, we’re lucky to get by a month without another massive spill from the agribusiness industry. These corporations will continue to operate with reckless abandon because at worst they face a measly fine. Meanwhile, my family is paying the price with our health and it’s costing every Iowan access to clean water.”