Part 6 — The Cost of Clean Water: Prevention, Accountability, and Health

In the final episode of our six-part water series, Dr. Shawn Ellerbroek (cancer scientist, biochemist, professor, and Iowa House District 57 candidate) and Dr. Emily Boevers (OB-GYN, mother of three, and health advocate) step back to connect the dots: we can either pay to keep pollutants out of our water—or pay far more to remove them later. They unpack who bears those costs (taxpayers vs. polluters), why low fines fail as deterrents, how permit decisions ripple through communities, and what it means for everyday Iowans’ health, recreation, and local economies.

Highlights:

• Prevent vs. clean-up: the real price of nitrate and PFAS contamination
• Weak enforcement: why fines don’t change billion-dollar behavior
• Permits, monitoring, and “workarounds” that expand risk across watersheds
• Cancer concerns: correlation, not causation—but enough to demand action now
• Practical steps: well testing, understanding municipal limits, and when RO systems make sense

Shawn and Emily close with a call for shared responsibility: whatever our politics, we all drink the same water. Catch Parts 1–5 for expert perspectives from Dr. Helmers, Rep. Chuck Isenhart, and Wally Taylor—and stay tuned as Deciding Iowa returns to track legislative developments in the new session.

Listen next: Start the series at Part 1, then continue through Parts 2–5 for the full story.

In the fourth part of Deciding Iowa’s six-part series on water, Dr. Shawn Ellerbroek and Dr. Emily Boevers turn their attention to the backbone of Iowa agriculture: row crops. Joined by Dr. Matt Helmers, they explore the challenges of an “annual cropping system” that leaks nutrients into our waterways, even when best practices are followed.

The conversation digs into:

• Why corn and soybeans dominate Iowa’s 24 million acres of row crops—and what that means for nitrate runoff.
• The limits of nitrogen management and why even “no-fertilizer” plots still lose nitrates.
• How cover crops and perennial systems mimic natural prairie and reduce leaching.
• The promise—and economic hurdles—of introducing small grains and forage crops into Iowa rotations.
• Why voluntary adoption alone may not be enough to protect our water.

This episode shines a light on the structural and economic obstacles of diversifying Iowa’s crop system, and what it will take for clean water solutions to take root.

In this third episode of our six-part Deciding Iowa series on water, Dr. Shawn Ellerbroek and Dr. Emily Boevers explore one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing Iowa’s waterways: manure management and nonpoint source contamination.

Iowa is home to the highest concentration of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the world. With more than 4,000 CAFOs across the state, questions about oversight, nutrient application, and long-term water quality are more urgent than ever. Shawn and Emily are joined by Rep. Chuck Isenhart and Mr. Wally Taylor to unpack how manure waste is regulated, the role of state and federal policies, and why groups like the Sierra Club are litigating waste management plans.

The conversation touches on:

What CAFOs are, and why they matter in Iowa’s water story.

Who is responsible for monitoring manure application and compliance with management plans.

The seasonal and economic realities of manure spreading and new technologies.

The balance between supporting farmers and protecting public water resources.

With reduced funding for water monitoring and increasing deregulation, the panel asks tough questions: Are we doing enough to keep nutrients in the field and out of our rivers? And if not, who ultimately pays the price for cleanup?

Join us as we dig into the complexity of Iowa’s manure management, its impact on water quality, and what must change to protect our shared future.

In this second episode of our six-part Deciding Iowa series on water, hosts Dr. Shawn Ellerbroek and Dr. Emily Boevers dig into Iowa’s drinking water: where it comes from, how much we have, and the challenges in protecting it.

Recent headlines have spotlighted rising nitrate levels in Iowa’s rivers, putting stress on water treatment facilities and raising concerns for public health. To unpack the science, policy, and law behind these issues, we’re joined by two leading voices:

• Chuck Isenhart, former Iowa State Representative and current investigative reporter and environmental advocate.
• Wally Taylor, longtime environmental attorney, representing the Sierra Club in cases involving water, land use, and pipeline projects.

Together, they explore Iowa’s aquifers, the risks of contamination, gaps in regulation, and the tension between protecting water resources and supporting agriculture and industry.

This episode raises tough questions about how Iowa manages its most vital resource—and what it will take to secure safe, clean water for future generations.

Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are flowing into Iowa’s waterways at alarming levels, fueling pollution and long-term risks for our health, economy, and environment. In this episode, Shawn and Emily sit down with Dr. Matt Helmers, Director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Dean's Professor in the College of Ag and Life Sciences, and Professor at Iowa State University to unpack what’s being done, what’s working, and what still needs urgent attention.