ELMA WATER SUPPLY
PWS ID: IA4525017 · ELMA, Iowa 50628
ELMA WATER SUPPLY serves 505 people in ELMA, Iowa using Groundwater water sources. It has 85 recorded EPA violations, including 0 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.
Water Quality Snapshot: ELMA WATER SUPPLY
ELMA WATER SUPPLY is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 505 residents in ELMA, Iowa (Howard County) through 280 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 85 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 77 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Nitrate, recorded in 19 violations (MR). 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. ELMA WATER SUPPLY's 85 violations sit above 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
- 280
- County
- Howard
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 77
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | MR | 19 | 2008 |
| Toluene | MR | 12 | 2008 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | MR | 12 | 2008 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 10 | 1996 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MR | 8 | 2009 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | MR | 4 | 2007 |
| TTHM | MR | 4 | 2014 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | MR | 4 | 1995 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 4 | 2014 |
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 ELMA WATER SUPPLY.
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 IA4525017 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | TTHM | MR | 4 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 2950 |
| 2014 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 4 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 2456 |
| 2009 | Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MR | 8 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 4000 |
| 2008 | Nitrate | MR | 19 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 1040 |
| 2008 | Toluene | MR | 12 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 2991 |
| 2008 | Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | MR | 12 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 2039 |
| 2007 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | MR | 4 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 4010 |
| 1996 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 10 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 3100 |
| 1995 | 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | MR | 4 | SDWIS / IA4525017 / 2378 |
How ELMA WATER SUPPLY Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | ELMA WATER SUPPLY | Iowa avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 85 | 77 | SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 0 | 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 | 505 | 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
Is ELMA WATER SUPPLY water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does ELMA WATER SUPPLY serve? ▼
What type of violations does ELMA WATER SUPPLY have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in ELMA WATER SUPPLY water? ▼
What water source does ELMA WATER SUPPLY use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Explore PlainWater
Related Data for Iowa
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.