This week, the Iowa House has been looking at an infrastructure budget bill.

2nd-term State Representative Chip Baltimore says the bill would provide not only more facility construction for prisons and universities but the most important aspect is increased funding for lake restoration and water quality in the state.

Baltimore states that due to extreme variances in weather conditions such as floods from a couple of years ago to last year’s drought has led to a number of nitrates running off and into rivers and streams which feeds into a community’s water supply.  He points out that some towns are having challenges with sewage systems including one city (name of city) was forced to dump hundreds of raw sewage into a river because of a broken pump.

Republican Baltimore comments that in Greene and Boone counties, he wants to make sure the numerous recreation lakes are restored so people and waterlife are protected and safe.

This is a need, Baltimore adds, to ensure safe drinking water levels for all Iowans.