Iowa Sets Record for Water Testing in 2025

Iowans lead the nation in water quality monitoring efforts

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A record number of water testing kits were requested by Iowans in 2025, according to a report from the Izaak Walton League. The conservation group's chairman, Neil Mittelberg, noted that Iowa has emerged as a national leader in water quality monitoring and testing.

Why it matters

Water quality is a critical issue for Iowa, which has faced challenges with nitrate and other pollutant levels in its rivers and streams. The high level of water testing by Iowans demonstrates a strong commitment to understanding and addressing these environmental concerns at the community level.

The details

The Izaak Walton League, a national conservation organization, reported that Iowans requested a record number of water testing kits in 2025 to monitor the quality of their local waterways. The group's conservation committee chairman, Neil Mittelberg, said the state has "clearly pulled away as a leader" in grassroots water quality testing efforts.

  • In 2023, Mittelberg performed nitrate strip tests at Winnebago Park in Cedar Rapids.
  • The record-breaking number of water testing kits requested by Iowans occurred in 2025.

The players

Neil Mittelberg

Conservation committee chairman for the Izaak Walton League.

Izaak Walton League

A national conservation organization that provides water testing kits and promotes water quality monitoring efforts.

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What they’re saying

“Iowa has clearly pulled away as a leader”

— Neil Mittelberg, Conservation committee chairman (The Gazette Cedar Rapids)

The takeaway

The high level of water testing by Iowans demonstrates a strong commitment to understanding and addressing environmental concerns at the community level, positioning Iowa as a national leader in grassroots water quality monitoring efforts.