The Iowa Army Ammunition Plant is reporting significant progress in its efforts to clean up groundwater contamination near the facility.
Recent testing shows RDX, a chemical used in explosives, has dropped considerably in groundwater beneath farmland south of the plant near Wever.
The cleanup effort began using an enhanced degradation process in 2022. As part of the project, 20 wells were installed along Highway 61. The wells are used to introduce natural materials into the groundwater, which helps stimulate microbes already present in the soil. Those microbes break down RDX and reduce its concentration.
The federal standard for RDX in drinking water is less than 2 micrograms per liter. According to the latest testing, areas that previously recorded very high concentrations of RDX have now been eliminated.
The overall area affected by the contamination has also been reduced by nearly three-quarters compared with measurements taken in 2007.
IAAAP Commander Lt. Col. Daniel Nosse said the treatment is showing strong and sustained microbial activity, indicating the process is working as intended.
Nosse credited the Army Environmental Command for its technical support and resources throughout the project.
The Army says the latest results are an important step forward, but cleanup efforts will continue as officials work toward further reducing contamination and protecting the surrounding environment and local communities.
