Cedar Rapids Explores Aquifer Storage and Recovery

The City of Cedar Rapids is exploring the use of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) to ensure that they have adequate water to meet peak demand and to use in blending with water withdrawn from its wells when they have high levels of contaminants.  

After studying the use of ASR for a year, the staff requested approval from the city council to seek contractors to bid on drilling an ASR well.  The well is going to be used to pump treated drinking water into the Jordan Aquifer where it will be saved.  

Curiously, this is being pursued at a time when use of water by industries is expected to explode - Google and QTS data centers being constructed south of town near the airport and an Alliant gas plant planned to be built west of town on the Benton County line and Highway 30.  As well, a Google data centers complex is being proposed near Palo, which will withdraw surface water from the Cedar River. 

It is expected that the treated water will be pumped into the Jordan Aquifer in the winter.  Water will be withdrawn during times of peak usage.  

The water stored within the aquifer could also be used to mix with water from wells that is carrying high levels of nitrates in the spring and summer, which would lower the nitrate levels in treated drinking water provided to the community.  It could also be used to blend with well water that is high in other pollutants.

Resources

Grace Nieland, "Cedar Rapids to drill deep to safeguard water supply", Cedar Rapids Gazette, May 28, 2026