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Community Water System · PWS IA5225079

Iowa City Water Department

Iowa City, Iowa 52240 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 68,753 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

68,753
People served
130
EPA violations
0
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 130 drinking-water violations at Iowa City Water Department - above the Iowa per-system average.

130
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
68,753
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Iowa City Water Department

Iowa City Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 68,753 residents in Iowa City, Iowa (Johnson County) through 28,765 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 130 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 69 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2013.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Nitrate, recorded in 9 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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. Statewide, 127 of 152 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (83.6%).

Iowa City Water Department's 130 violations sit above the Iowa average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
68,753
Total Violations
130
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
28,765
County
Johnson
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
69
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Nitrate MR 9 2007
Coliform (TCR) MR 5 2013
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 1992
Benzene MR 4 1990
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 4 1996
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 4 1996
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 1990
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 1990
Trichloroethylene MR 3 1990
Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 1990
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 1990
Toluene MR 3 1990
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 2 1990
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 1990
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 1990
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 1990
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 1990
Carbon tetrachloride MR 2 1989
Styrene MR 2 1990
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 1990
CHLOROBENZENE MR 2 1990
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 2 1990
Ethylbenzene MR 1 1990

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 91 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFOA 9/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/12/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/12/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/12/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/12/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/12/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

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 Iowa City Water Department.

Federal Source of Truth

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 IA5225079 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

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 SDWIS

Violation 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
2013 Coliform (TCR) MR 5 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 3100
2007 Nitrate MR 9 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 1040
1996 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 4 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 4000
1996 Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 4 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 4010
1992 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 5000
1990 Benzene MR 4 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2990
1990 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2969
1990 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2981
1990 Trichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2984
1990 Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2987
1990 1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2977
1990 Toluene MR 3 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2991
1990 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 2 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2983
1990 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2964
1990 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 SDWIS / IA5225079 / 2968

How Iowa City Water Department Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Iowa City Water Department Iowa avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 130 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 68,753 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 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Iowa City Water Department water safe to drink? ▼
Iowa City Water Department (PWS ID: IA5225079) has 130 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 68,753 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Iowa City Water Department serve? ▼
Iowa City Water Department serves 68,753 people in Iowa City, Iowa. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 28,765 service connections.
What type of violations does Iowa City Water Department have? ▼
Iowa City Water Department has 130 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 69 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Iowa City Water Department water? ▼
No. Iowa City Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Iowa City Water Department use? ▼
Iowa City Water Department uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.