Humberto Vergara has long dreamed of bringing reliable flash flood forecasting to countries around the world. Now he and his team are beginning to make that a reality, thanks to a major grant from the World Meteorological Organization.

IIHR Director Larry Weber says that as nitrate levels continue to rise and pressure on water systems increases, he feels the responsibility of collecting and sharing water quality data weighs heavily on him in his role as a scientist and a public employee.

University of Iowa and IIHR researcher David Cwiertny and his team are using a $124,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to expand “Get the Lead Out,” a statewide program that tests for lead in drinking water.

The devastating Iowa Flood of 2008 did more than damage homes and infrastructure — it fundamentally changed how Iowa approaches water, sparking a wave of conservation efforts, research and long-term monitoring that continues to shape local programs today.

Geologists, ecologists, and many other experts understand our natural systems and how they operate. We need to bring their understanding into discussions about water quality and other environmental concerns to achieve better outcomes. 

With recent heavy rain coming down in Iowa and Des Moines' nitrate removal facility at high usage for this year, some may wonder if the two are connected.

Omaha public health officials say that not enough kids there are getting tested for lead, given Omaha’s lead problems, which include being home to the largest residential lead cleanup site in the country. Danielle Land, a postdoctoral scholar in public health at the University of Iowa and IIHR alumna, says that understanding the prevalence of lead is complicated.

Iowa’s second-highest cancer rate in the nation has made scientific water quality data more important than ever. The Iowa Legislature diverted funds for the Iowa Water Quality Information System in 2023. While county governments and other groups have helped fund the system the last few years, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering Director Larry Weber is asking lawmakers to reappropriate funds before the end of this year’s session.

Iowa’s real-time nitrate water sensor network is in danger of losing funding on June 30, 2026. But Iowa state legislators have the power to restore its funding this session.

On April 7, the University of Iowa presented Larry Weber with its most prestigious honor, the Hancher-Finkbine Medallion.