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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- With many people swimming in lakes and ponds this summer, water rescue teams have to be ready at a moment’s notice to hit the water.

And for the Ottumwa Fire Department’s water rescue team, they have had to make a few changes to how they do things so they can have the fastest response time possible.

Because of the construction project on Quincy Avenue replacing the bridge, they have had to move their boat launching site to behind the Public Works garage.

The water rescue teams were out on the water Monday for a routine practice water rescue.

“We're just going to be doing different boat operation techniques, and just keeping the guys familiar and on their toes in case a problem arises to where we have to go out and work a rescue situation on the Des Moines River,” said Capt. Dave Yeager, Ottumwa Fire Department.

Yeager said there is a lot of traffic on the Des Moines River and the number of water rescues varies year to year but their rescue teams are always ready.