Leaders in the southern Iowa city of Osceola grew concerned as persistent drought caused the level to drop in the lake that supplies homes and businesses with water.
West Lake, about three miles from the city, had receded by as much as nine feet. Owners of a floating casino feared it might run aground. Daily water usage at 1.4 mgd was exceeding the safe withdrawal rate of 800,000 to 900,000 gpd. Residents and businesses faced sometimes severe water use restrictions.But help is on the way. Within a few years, the city’s new $44 million wastewater treatment plant will send about half
