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AMES, IOWA -- City leaders across Iowa continue working to reduce water pollution in a cost effective manner.

The League of Iowa Cities recently held a meeting with the Iowa Water Pollution Control Association.

Ottumwa City Administrator Joe Helfenberger said a sub-committee will be formed from the League of Iowa Cities and will focus on what can be done to better fight water pollution in Iowa.

He said the government needs to have scientific measurements and standards when reducing pollution.

“There was a common theme of organizing together to pool our resources to come up with effective ways of working towards reducing pollution in a cost effective and program effective manner,”

Helfenberger feels that projects and standards are given out on a case-by-case basis, which he doesn’t find very effective.

“Right now there is no scientific standard being followed. In fact, there is no clearly defined standard as far as what level of pollution, what level of reduction has to take place,” Helfenberger said.

Instead of forcing cities and taxpayers to spend money, he feels the government needs to find the root of the problem.

“The cities are easy targets, but if they are not effectively treating pollution they shouldn’t be burdening the sewer fee payers and tax payers of Iowa with these mandates, especially if they are not effective and reducing pollution,” Helfenberger said.

Helfenberger said studies show no difference in water quality 2,000 feet above and below the sewer discharge in the Des Moines River.

Helfenberger said the next step is to meet and start working towards making policies.

He added with enough time and money almost anything can be accomplished, but since we don’t have that we need to do things more efficiently.