Politics & Government
Drought 2012: Story County Burn Ban Lifted But Drought Fear Remains
Story County rescinded its Burn Ban, but DNR warns that continued low rain fall may contribute to water main breaks across the state through winter.
A burn ban that went into effect in Story County during the middle of July was finally lifted Monday, but officials are still concerned about how extremely dry conditions could affect water utilities through winter.
Much of the state is considered to be under extreme drought conditions according to the US Drought Monitor.
Representatives from the Iowa Water Utilities and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are concerned about the extremely dry conditions as winter approaches. Extremely dry ground will allow frost to penetrate deeper than normal potentially causing an increase in water main breaks through the winter, said John Dunn Director of Ames Water and Pollution Control Department.
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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported in its Water Summary last week, that an increase in boil orders, which were a result of water main breaks, might have been drought related since the jump occurred in Mid-July through August.
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