MARATHON LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT
PWS ID: IA1150030 · MARATHON, Iowa 50565
MARATHON LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT serves 230 people in MARATHON, Iowa using Groundwater water sources. It has 68 recorded EPA violations, including 39 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.
Water Quality Snapshot: MARATHON LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT
MARATHON LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 230 residents in MARATHON, Iowa (Buena Vista County) through 120 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 68 total violations for this system , of which 39 (57%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 14 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2007.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Arsenic, recorded in 20 violations (MCL, health-based). This system has not yet been sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, so no PFAS detection data is available here.
Across Iowa, EPA tracks 1,795 public water systems serving 3,114,444 people, with 138,271 cumulative violations and 27,946 health-based violations on record. About 95% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 77 violations. MARATHON LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT's 68 violations sit below the Iowa average. Statewide, 127 of 152 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (83.6%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 120
- County
- Buena Vista
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 39
- Monitoring Violations
- 14
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | MCL | 20 | 2007 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 19 | 1992 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 3 | 1993 |
| Nitrate | MR | 3 | 1996 |
| Arsenic | MR | 2 | 1985 |
| Barium | MR | 1 | 1985 |
| Cadmium | MR | 1 | 1985 |
| Chromium | MR | 1 | 1985 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 1 | 1988 |
| Mercury | MR | 1 | 1985 |
| Selenium | MR | 1 | 1985 |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records — or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status — go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for MARATHON LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT.
EPA SDWIS — Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID IA1150030 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Iowa Drinking Water Authority
Iowa's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.
Find IA regulator via EPA SDWISViolation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Arsenic | MCL | 20 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 1005 |
| 1996 | Nitrate | MR | 3 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 1040 |
| 1993 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 3 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 3100 |
| 1992 | Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 19 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 3100 |
| 1988 | Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 1 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 5000 |
| 1985 | Arsenic | MR | 2 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 1005 |
| 1985 | Barium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 1010 |
| 1985 | Cadmium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 1015 |
| 1985 | Chromium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 1020 |
| 1985 | Mercury | MR | 1 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 1035 |
| 1985 | Selenium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / IA1150030 / 1045 |
How MARATHON LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | MARATHON LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT | Iowa avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 68 | 77 | SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 39 | 15.6 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 83.6% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 230 | 1,735 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,795 regulated public water systems in Iowa.
Federal MCL reference — Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Data for Iowa
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.