Chris Jones is retired from IIHR-Hydrosocience & Engineering at the University of Iowa, where he worked as a research engineer focusing on water quality in agricultural landscapes. Prior to that, he worked for the Des Moines Water Works, Iowa Soybean Association and as a consultant for water and wastewater utilities. He has a BA in Chemistry and Biology from Simpson College and a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Montana State University. Dr. Jones has authored 55 articles in scientific journals, several book chapters, and is the author of The Swine Republic, Struggles with Truth about Agriculture and Water Quality. His writing has appeared in the Des Moines Register, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Kansas City Star and in the on-line periodical, Civil Eats. He's a frequent guest on Iowa Public Radio and was a guest on NPR's On Point. He also writes a Substack column that can be found at riverraccoon.substack.com. He lives in Iowa City, Iowa.

“Anything that is a contaminant on the surface can get down into the fractured bedrock very easily and very quickly contaminate the groundwater. So, when we try to farm at these very large scales . . . that presents a real acute and chronic hazard to the water resources in that area.” He is referring to Northeast Iowa where the increase in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), both cattle and hogs, are contributing to health concerns due to contaminated water. Listen to the program here.