Des Moines taps Gray's Lake to water plants

Driving the news: Parks and Recreation began preparing for the operation in mid-June and now pulls about 18,000 gallons a week from the lake. It has pulled roughly 100,000 gallons so far this summer, city spokesperson Ally MacLean tells Axios.

How it works: Crews use a transfer pump and trailer previously used to fill wading and splash pools, allowing them to fill a 350-gallon truck-mounted tank in about five minutes.

• The only new expense was about $40 for a discharge hose.

The intrigue: The water removed so far this summer is equivalent to lowering the lake by about the depth of a nickel, MacLean said.

Reality check: The effort won't lower the city's water costs since the municipality doesn't pay for the water it uses for irrigation.

Yes, but: It creates operational efficiencies because the pump is close to the areas being watered, and it helps reduce pressure on DSM Water Works facilities, MacLean said.

Zoom out: The city also uses a 2,000-gallon rainwater collection system at its Municipal Service Center II building to help with park cleanup and street sweeping.

What we're watching: Whether Des Moines expands the use of alternative water sources, which city staff continue to explore, MacLean tells Axios.