Flood receding in Cedar Rapids, but drinking water problem looms

Flood waters are receding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the city is already posting notices about how to deal with the aftermath of the deluge that forced a fifth of the population 24,000 people to flee. Officials are concerned about the pressure onthe drinking water supply.

The city's temporary website said Saturday thatteams offirefighters, utility workers and building inspectors will start Sunday to assess whether flooded homes aresafe to enter.

"The city continues to be very dangerous but we are doing everything in our power to get people access to their homes as soon as possible in a safe manner," city council memberJeff Beauregard said.

But flood waters have contaminated three of the city's four wells, meaning a drinking water shortage is looming.Cedar Rapids isencouraging residents to conserve water by cutting back on toilet flushes and showers.

"Water is still our primary concern," said utility director Pat Ball."We're still using water at a greater rate than we're producing."

More than 400 city blocks and 3,900 homes in the city were flooded when the Cedar River burst its banks. Other streams in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas and Michigan also flooded after daysof heavy rain across the U.S. Midwest.

Des Moines starting to recover

In the capital, Des Moines, a levee on the Des Moines River broke earlySaturday, floodinga neighborhood which has more than 20 homes.

But the city is recovering; its website saiddowntown bridges were reopening Saturday, and announcedarrangements for residents to placeflood-damaged items on the curb for pickup.

The voluntary evacuation was also lifted, although amandatory order was still in place for one area.

Downstreamfrom Cedar Rapids, below the point where the Cedar River feeds into the Iowa River, a flood crest is heading toward Iowa City. But it's not expected to hituntil Monday or early Tuesday.

Theflooding has caused two deaths in Iowa, and 83 of the state's 99 counties have been declareddisaster areas.