(Exira, Iowa; Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Iowa Auditor/Democratic candidate for Governor Rob Sand visited with residents in Exira Tuesday afternoon about the shortage of water and a recent boil advisory. The meeting was held at the Exira Public Library. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports during the session, residents mentioned homes running out of water from the Regional Water Rural Water Association’s system (based in Avoca), and was told it was not the first time the town’s pipes had gone dry. In fact, the problems, they said, have gone on for several years.

Tom Kallman, the association’s general manager, said since the flood of 2019 water tables in the region have been 10-12 inches below average, and the persistent drought conditions have meant no replenishment for groundwater stores. Customers in the system have been on water conservation advisories during most of this time, and since May 14 have been on advisories to boil all drinking water after shortages created a loss of pressure from the systems. The recent advisory has led to frustration with the system, especially in Exira.

Boil advisories for almost all of the system have been lifted following negative sampling results, and Regional Water is now looking to a nearly completed pipeline connection to Council Bluffs to adequately supply water to the system.  Exira officials and residents, however, are skeptical that this will be the end of their water-related problems.

Democratic candidate for governor and State Auditor Rob Sand speaks with residents of Exira about water shortages on June 3, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/ Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Exira officials allege Regional Water oversold the system, which has led to their perennial water issues.  Kallman said “that was not the case” but that drought conditions in eight of the last 10 years have created a situation which no one predicted. Referring to previous management of the RW system, Kallman said “If they had known (then) what you know now, 20 years later, they would have probably made a different decision. Kallman has been with the association for nearly four years.

The RWRWA has 2,600 connections and serves around 750-square miles in parts of Audubon, Cass, Harrison, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties. Exira is the newest addition to the system, according to Kellman, and came on in 2005 after an engineering study revealed it would be more cost effective for the town to join the rural water district than to rehabilitate its failing water treatment system.

Meg Andersen, Exira’s city clerk, said the city of 763 people could not fund a solution without the help of funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office which were only available if the city decided to join Regional Water, to which they signed a 40-year agreement. “You have no option,” Andersen said. “And now all of a sudden, we’re realizing this is an unsustainable source.” But the past three years, especially, have left the town frustrated with their perennial water issues.

Kaellman said the system has relied almost entirely on its shallow well field, which has made the most sense, given that the region does not have a surface-water source sufficient enough to tap. The association explored drilling a deep well, but found it would require drilling down between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, with just a 40% chance of striking water. The other option, which the system decided to pursue, involves an 18-mile pipeline to connect with the system in Council Bluffs and pump water into Regional Water’s system.

Kallman said the pipeline project was approved for federal funding and construction began last October. A temporary pump for the station is projected to be completed on or about June 11th and will bring some respite to the wells and customers in the system. The permanent pump for the system should be completed by October 2025. Kellman said drought was the primary reason the wells are no longer able to meet demand, but he also pointed to the consistent use and installation of drainage tile to agricultural fields as part of the problem.

Since the town is locked into a 40-year contract with Regional Water, and its own water treatment facility has been sold, Exira is left with few options. The city sent a demand letter to Regional Water and is exploring legal options to leave the contract.

Sand, a Democrat from Decorah, listened to the experiences of the Exira residents and said it should be a crisis to which state leaders pay more attention. “Exira matters,” Sand said. “I think anyone in Iowa that’s facing problems like this should have their problems fixed. Government is supposed to work for everybody.” Sand took issue with the expensive steps city officials said they would have to complete in order to change the current situation. “Instead of prioritizing the process, prioritize the people,” Sand said.