Iowa tap water quality
1,083 community water systems serving 3 million people.
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
PFAS: EPA's 2023–2025 testing. Lead: results from the last five years. 1 more systems have no recent lead results in EPA's database.
Water systems with PFAS above the federal limit
Based on EPA's UCMR 5 results (2023–2025) compared to the April 2024 limits, the way EPA compares them. Systems have until 2029 to comply. Largest first.
Iowa PFAS report: chart, rankings and data to download →
Largest water systems in Iowa
- Des Moines Water Works246,055 people · Purchased surface water · IowaLithium above screening levelAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
- Iowa American Water – Davenport147,720 people · Surface water · IowaPFOA detected
- Cedar Rapids Water Department142,364 people · Groundwater under influence of surface water · IowaNo PFAS above limits
- Sioux City Water Supply85,791 people · Groundwater under influence of surface water · IowaPFHxS above limitAlso: PFAS Hazard Index above limit · Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations · PFOA detected
- City of Ankeny76,207 people · Purchased surface water · IowaLithium above screening level
- West Des Moines Water Works73,959 people · Purchased surface water · IowaLithium above screening level
- Waterloo Water Works69,504 people · Groundwater · IowaPFHxS detectedAlso: Lithium above screening level
- Iowa City Water Department68,753 people · Surface water · IowaLithium above screening level
- Council Bluffs Water Works64,447 people · Surface water · IowaLithium above screening level
- Dubuque Water Works59,667 people · Groundwater · IowaPFOA detected
- Ames Water Treatment Plant55,177 people · Groundwater · IowaLithium above screening level
- University Water System47,136 people · Surface water · IowaTotal trihalomethanes (TTHM) violationsAlso: Lithium above screening level
- Urbandale Water Utility45,605 people · Purchased surface water · IowaLithium above screening level
- Isu Water System42,000 people · Purchased groundwater · IowaLithium above screening level
- Marion Municipal Water Dept41,623 people · Groundwater · IowaLithium above screening level
Iowa cities and towns
- Ames
- Ankeny
- Bettendorf
- Cedar Falls
- Cedar Rapids
- Council Bluffs
- Davenport
- Des Moines
- Dubuque
- Iowa City
- Johnston
- Marion
- Marshalltown
- Mason City
- Ottumwa
- Sioux City
- Urbandale
- Waterloo
- Waukee
- West Des Moines
Most health-based violations since 2016
- McBride Pointe Third Master Maintenance Water System25 people · Groundwater · IowaArsenic violations
- Gallery Acres West Water System43 people · Purchased groundwater · IowaArsenic violations
- Chariton Municipal Water Works4,381 people · Purchased surface water · IowaNo PFAS above limitsAlso: 20 health-based violations since 2016
- Mallard Water Supply257 people · Purchased groundwater · IowaArsenic violations
- Grinnell Water Department9,564 people · Groundwater · IowaRadium (combined 226/228) violationsAlso: Gross alpha violations · Lithium above screening level
- Donnellson Municipal Water Works885 people · Purchased groundwater · IowaRadium (combined 226/228) violationsAlso: Gross alpha violations
- Iowa Valley Estates Water System46 people · Groundwater · IowaNitrate violations
- Knierim Water Supply53 people · Groundwater · IowaNitrite violations
- Lanesboro Water Works119 people · Purchased groundwater · IowaArsenic violations
- Dedham Water Supply221 people · Purchased groundwater · IowaNot in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 8 health-based violations since 2016
- Bristow Municipal Water Supply145 people · Groundwater · IowaNitrate violations
- Dawson Water Works116 people · Groundwater · IowaNitrate violations
- Leon Water Supply1,830 people · Surface water · IowaTotal trihalomethanes (TTHM) violationsAlso: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violations
- Kesslers Homeowners Association60 people · Groundwater · IowaRadium (combined 226/228) violations
- Plover Water Supply50 people · Groundwater · IowaArsenic violations
All Iowa utilities on this site
Every Iowa system serving 50,000+ people or with PFAS above a federal limit, A to Z. Download all 1,083 systems as CSV.
- Ames Water Treatment Plant
- Cedar Rapids Water Department
- City of Ankeny
- Council Bluffs Water Works
- Des Moines Water Works
- Dubuque Water Works
- Iowa American Water – Davenport
- Iowa City Water Department
- Sioux City Water Supply
- Waterloo Water Works
- West Des Moines Water Works
Questions
Does Iowa tap water have PFAS?
EPA tested 151 community water systems in Iowa for 29 PFAS between 2023 and 2025. 11 had at least one regulated PFAS detected, and 1 had an entry-point average above a 2024 federal limit. Those 1 systems serve about 85,791 people (3% of people on community water in Iowa). Systems have until 2029 to meet the limits.
How many Iowa water systems have violations?
105 systems in Iowa had at least one health-based violation since 2016 (336 violations in total). 227 violations are currently listed as unaddressed.
Which Iowa water systems are over the lead action level?
4 systems had a lead 90th percentile above the 15 ppb action level in their most recent results from the last five years. Another 1 system has no lead results in EPA's database from the last five years. Lead depends on each home's pipes, so a test of your own tap is the only way to know your level.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.