Hazardous waste is migrating toward Des Moines Water Works' (DMWW) underground collection systems.

Why it matters: DMWW is the metro's primary water supplier with around 600,000 customers.

• The issue is serious enough that it prompted the EPA to call a public meeting next week to discuss cleanup options.

State of play: Areas within the roughly 140-acre site adjacent to Water Works Park — commonly called "Lot 46" — contains trichloroethylene (TCE) and other chemicals frequently used in industrial solvents.

• The lot is mostly within an industrial area between George Flagg Parkway on the north, Bell Avenue to the south, Fleur Drive on the east and Southwest 30th Street on the west.

Catch up fast: Environmental regulators have not ever been able to positively identify the source of groundwater contamination, according to state records.

• Some of the first alerts surfaced in 1993 when a since-closed business asked the EPA how to dispose of 41 drums of urethane damaged in flooding.
• In 2004, the Iowa DNR discovered contamination at the site during groundwater investigations for a nearby project.

Zoom in: The DNR then spent more than a decade investigating the contamination and identified property owned by Mid-America Development Corporation as the potentially responsible party.

• Mid-America consistently denied responsibility for the contamination and didn't come to an agreement about the cleanup with the DNR.
• Iowa then referred the case to the EPA.

Of note: Mid-America did not respond to Axios' request for comment.

Driving the news: TCE has been detected in DMWW's raw water intake, state documents show.

• Processed drinking water remains safe for now, but the DMWW is advocating for the EPA to add Lot 46 to its National Priorities List (NPL) to help expedite further investigations or cleanup, a utility spokesperson tells Axios.
• Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a letter of support for the site being added to the NPL last month.

Details: Cleanup alternatives and costs would be developed by the EPA after it's potentially added to the NPL, a spokesperson for the agency tells Axios.

• The site could be added as early as 2024 following a public comment period, but the agency could also take actions to address immediate water threats.

What's next: EPA's community meeting starts at 6pm next Tuesday at Weeks Middle School.

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Housing prices in Des Moines' suburbs continue to shoot up, especially in outer areas where new housing stock is growing, like outside Bondurant, Adel and Huxley.

Driving the news: New housing prompted by population growth in the suburbs continues to raise median home prices there, Ted Weaver, a RE/MAX real estate broker, tells Axios.

• Older landlocked cities like Des Moines are still seeing increased housing prices, though the jump is not as high.

Zoom in: Homes for under $250K - $300K are especially hard to find right now in the suburbs, as resales tend to go quickly if they're properly priced, Weaver says.

• Waukee and Ankeny, our metro's two fastest-growing suburbs, continue to be high in demand for home buyers.

The big picture: Home inventory levels remain low, though the demand for a house is also lower in comparison to 2020, Weaver says.

Review our interactive metro map of prices by ZIP code

An abandoned safe deposit box full of hundreds of sports cards fetched $4,050 in the Iowa treasurer's online auction yesterday.

The intrigue: The final bid was about $2K more than what it was when the state removed what appeared to be a Michael Jordan rookie card and reset the lot's auction last week.

Yes, but: The lot still included unauthenticated cards from athletes like Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley.

Catch up fast: Iowa helps people claim lost or forgotten property through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, mostly for things like dormant bank accounts or unclaimed utility deposits.

• Physical storage is limited so the state is auctioning off boxes that have gone unclaimed for at least a decade.
• Revenue is held for rightful owners in perpetuity.

State of play: Some Michael Jordan rookie cards can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

• The treasurer's office ordered an appraisal after Axios noticed the potentially valuable card and will relist it after the condition and authenticity are verified.

Of note: About 30 other safe deposit items were auctioned off yesterday for a combined total of just under $5,500.

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🚪A local thief is removing pins from door hinges to break into businesses and steal money from registers. (Des Moines Register)

Des Moines mayoral candidates talked about how to curb gun violence, including getting rid of assault rifles. (WOI-TV)

👀 The Taco Bell/KFC off Hubbell Ave. has closed for the second time in 13 months due to cleanliness issues. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Wendy Hull, a staple in Des Moines’ music scene, passed away suddenly on Monday. (WOI-TV)

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1. Marketing & Communications Director/Coordinator at Iowa Association for Justice.
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Hiring? Use code FIRST50 for $50 off your first job post.

This staircase along Ingersoll Avenue will soon be part of a pedestrian connection with Grand Avenue.

State of play: The project was spearheaded by The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand, a development advocacy group, and Tree House Partners, owners of the historic Grand Tree Apartments.

• Polk County supervisors allocated $50K for the project.
• It’s anticipated to open in time for a June 21 Art Week on The Avenues event.

The intrigue: The design was inspired by a cool legend about a koi persevering to become a dragon, a spokesperson for The Avenues tells Axios.

🐉 Our thought bubble: Climbing all those stairs might make us at least huff like a dragon.

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👕 Hit reply to correctly guess where Jason is and be added into a drawing for a free Axios DSM shirt.

• Check back tomorrow for the answer and a story about this spot.