Des Moines council voted Monday night to continue supporting legislation that would dismantle Des Monies Water Works and leave local city councils in charge of water utilities, according to the Des Moines Register.

The vote was four against and two for, with one abstaining, on a motion that the city of Des Moines register against the two bills that would end the long standing utility company. Des Moines lobbyists will continue to support the legislation.

The bills survived Iowa House and Senate committees and are now open for floor debate in both houses. 

The legislation has faced backlash from angry citizens and legislators, who feel that dismantling Des Moines Water Works will hurt Iowans. Monday nights vote was standing room only as over 70 people packed into the council chamber, according to the Register. 

DMWW CEO Bill Stowe told the Register that he believes the legislation is a response to the utility company’s lawsuit against drainage districts in three counties in northwest Iowa. The suit claimed that these counties drained nitrates into Raccoon River, one of Des Moines’ main sources for water. 

The suit was dismissed by federal judge on Friday.

The bills have gone through some major changes since they were introduced at the beginning of the year. Instead of creating a regional water as original proposed, amendments to the bills would put local city councils in charge of utilities and hand over assets to cities.

An amendment to House File 484 would have metro mayors, city managers and rural water administrators begin a study on a regional water utility, and create a separate committee to determine utility operation and structure.