From my understanding, the issue of water quality in Raccoon River is an integrated issue. Who is truly responsible for excess nitrate pollution? As a government the state of Iowa is responsible for enacting policy that would limit the amount of nitrate runoff from underground drainage tiles. The government of Iowa must also be responsible for enforcing policy, or delegate the authority to enforce. Whether it’s a state agency, or the drainage districts, there needs to be a policing authority. It is also the job of the government to protect its citizens; clean drinking water is a right not a privilege. The landowners ought to be individually responsible for understanding how much fertilizer use is acceptable. Landowners have a responsibility
