FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY
PWS ID: IA5731032 · FAIRFAX, Iowa 52228
FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY serves 2,828 people in FAIRFAX, Iowa using Groundwater water sources. It has 32 recorded EPA violations, including 4 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.
Water Quality Snapshot: FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY
FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 2,828 residents in FAIRFAX, Iowa (Linn County) through 1,400 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 32 total violations for this system , of which 4 (13%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 22 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Combined Radium (-226 and -228), recorded in 11 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. FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY's 32 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
- 1,400
- County
- Linn
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 4
- Monitoring Violations
- 22
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | MR | 11 | 2015 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 4 | 2019 |
| Nitrate | MR | 4 | 2022 |
| Nitrite | MCL | 4 | 2004 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MR | 3 | 2004 |
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 FAIRFAX 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 IA5731032 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Nitrate | MR | 4 | SDWIS / IA5731032 / 1040 |
| 2019 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 4 | SDWIS / IA5731032 / 8000 |
| 2015 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | MR | 11 | SDWIS / IA5731032 / 4010 |
| 2004 | Nitrite | MCL | 4 | SDWIS / IA5731032 / 1041 |
| 2004 | Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MR | 3 | SDWIS / IA5731032 / 4000 |
How FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY | Iowa avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 32 | 77 | SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 4 | 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 | 2,828 | 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 FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY serve? ▼
What type of violations does FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY water? ▼
What water source does FAIRFAX WATER SUPPLY use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
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Related Data for Iowa
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.