(Radio Iowa) – Republican Eddie Andrews says if he’s elected governor, he’d push to address water quality issues — but would maintain the state’s voluntary approach to controlling nitrogen contamination of Iowa waterways. “They call it kind of the bully pulpit for a reason. You can have a soft bully pulpit,” Andrews says. “…Everyone needs clean water — it is a basic human need, right? Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, we all need clean water and once we understand the importance of that, I think we can make the case that it will be widely used.”

The voluntary Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy was adopted in 2013, to encourage farmers to take steps to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. Andrews is a state representative from Johnston, a Des Moines suburb. The Des Moines Water Works ran its nitrate removal plant for 110 days this summer and banned lawn watering. The utility’s officials say they took that step to ensure there would be enough drinking water for its 600-thousand customers. Andrews says it’s a statewide problem that requires a statewide discussion.

State Representative Eddie Andrews, a GOP candidate for governor, on the “Iowa Press” set at Iowa PBS. (Iowa PBS photo)

“You start with farmers who are doing their best to be good stewards of the land and to simultaneously increase their crops,” Andrews says, “so I think it’s going to take a sit down of all of us, all parties involved.” Andrews says it may require more use of cover crops and other styles of farming and he’s assembled a group of people to come up with a plan that he’d try to implement if elected. “We bring everyone to the table and talk about pros and cons, but really addressing why nitrates are in the water,” Andrews says.

Andrews made his comments during a recent appearance on the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S.