The South Skunk River in Ames has stopped flowing, causing city officials to worry about the water supply. Special pumps designed to pull water into the river were started this week to increase the flow and replenish Ames’ water supply, said John Dunn, assistant director of the Ames water and pollution-control department. “The water supply for the city of Ames is all from ground water,” Dunn said. “Our main concern is with the quantity of drinking water.” Ames pulls its drinking water from underground wells which are largely filled by the South Skunk River, Dunn said. “As of now, there is no shortage,” he said, adding that the water supply is safe to drink. Although the pumps should fix the problem, Dunn said he is concerned about having to ask the Ames City Council to enact the water-rationing plan if precipitation does not increase. The pumps were started about 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, and by the end of the day Thursday, the water was expected to start flowing into a concrete dam in River Valley Park in east Ames, Dunn said. Each minute, 1,000 gallons of water – almost triple the normal stream flow – passes through the pumps, he said. This will help the city achieve its goal of keeping the dam full until it freezes. The cause of the low river levels can be attributed to a less-than-average amount of rainfall, Dunn said. “Eleven of the last 12 months have been lower than average,” he said, resulting in 12 inches fewer of rainfall. The low rainfall has also caused the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to be concerned about aquatic life in the river. Jim Stricker, field supervisor for the DNR, said it’s difficult to protect aquatic life in every situation. “It’s pretty hard to protect those fish [without water flow],” Stricker said. “Water quality should still be satisfactory to protect aquatic life.” The DNR follows a seven-day, 10-year low flow. This means the DNR recommends action if rivers have reached their lowest average flow in the past 10 years for seven consecutive days. Ames is at this point, Stricker said. Although it is not the first time pumps have been used in Ames, it is the first time they have been used at Peterson Pits north of Ames, Dunn said. Hallett Quarry has been successful on four occasions in the past in generating water flow. Unless Peterson Pits proves unsuccessful, Dunn said, the city will continue pumping from there. The water pumps cost about $15,000 to $20,000 plus labor, Dunn said. “It does certainly make more work for us,” he said.