About Chris Jones
Chris Jones is a research scientist, author and one of Iowa’s leading water quality experts who has spent more than 40 years advocating for clean water and sustainable agricultural practices across the state.
During his career, Jones managed the water quality testing laboratory at Des Moines Water Works for eight years, helping oversee operations at one of the world’s largest nitrate removal facilities built to address Iowa’s agricultural runoff crisis. He also spent four years as an environmental scientist at the Iowa Soybean Association, where he helped deploy some of the state’s first independent water quality monitoring systems.
At the University of Iowa, Jones worked as a research engineer and helped develop Iowa’s first real-time public water quality sensor network, giving Iowans unprecedented access to information about the health of their rivers and streams.
In 2023, Jones published The Swine Republic: Struggles With the Truth About Agriculture and Water Quality, which was selected by the Library of Congress as Iowa’s representative at the 2024 National Book Festival. In 2024, he also helped found Driftless Water Defenders, a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the waters of northeast Iowa’s Driftless Area.
Iowans shouldn't have to choose between prosperity OR safe drinking water, freedom OR safe beaches, livestock OR wildlife, and love it OR leave it.
A prosperous countryside AND clean water for all can co-exist, with courageous leadership and vision.
A Selection of Chris's Media Appearances
Chris often speaks about water safety issues with the Iowa media, especially following the publication of his collection of essays, The Swine Republic.
