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Community Water System · PWS IA6368033

Pella Water Works Department

Pella, Iowa 50219 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 11,052 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

11,052
People served
418
EPA violations
10
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 418 drinking-water violations at Pella Water Works Department, 2% of them health-based - above the Iowa per-system average.

418
Total EPA violations on record
2%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
11,052
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Pella Water Works Department

Pella Water Works Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 11,052 residents in Pella, Iowa (Marion County) through 4,086 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 418 total violations for this system , of which 10 (2%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 199 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 1997.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Carbon tetrachloride, recorded in 13 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%).

Pella Water Works Department's 418 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
11,052
Total Violations
418
Health-Based Violations
10
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
4,086
County
Marion
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
8
Monitoring Violations
199
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Carbon tetrachloride MR 13 1990
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 12 1990
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 10 1990
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 10 1990
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 10 1990
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 10 1990
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 10 1990
Tetrachloroethylene MR 10 1990
Benzene MR 10 1990
Ethylbenzene MR 10 1990
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 10 1990
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 10 1990
CHLOROBENZENE MR 10 1990
Toluene MR 10 1990
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 10 1990
Styrene MR 10 1990
Trichloroethylene MR 10 1990
Coliform (TCR) MCL 8 1997
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 8 1990
Xylenes, Total MR 8 1990
Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 1992
Antimony, Total MR 3 1993
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 1995

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NFDHA 8/15/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/15/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/15/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/15/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/15/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/15/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/15/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/15/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/15/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/15/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/15/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/15/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 2/14/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 2/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 2/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 2/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 2/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 2/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 2/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 2/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 2/14/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 2/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 2/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 2/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 Pella Water Works 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 IA6368033 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
1997 Coliform (TCR) MCL 8 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 3100
1995 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 0200
1993 Antimony, Total MR 3 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 1074
1992 Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 5000
1990 Carbon tetrachloride MR 13 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2982
1990 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 12 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2980
1990 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2983
1990 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2380
1990 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2968
1990 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2981
1990 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2985
1990 Tetrachloroethylene MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2987
1990 Benzene MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2990
1990 Ethylbenzene MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2992
1990 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 10 SDWIS / IA6368033 / 2969

How Pella Water Works Department Compares

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

Metric Pella Water Works Department Iowa avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 418 77 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 10 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 11,052 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 Pella Water Works Department water safe to drink? ▼
Pella Water Works Department (PWS ID: IA6368033) has 418 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 11,052 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Pella Water Works Department serve? ▼
Pella Water Works Department serves 11,052 people in Pella, Iowa. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 4,086 service connections.
What type of violations does Pella Water Works Department have? ▼
Pella Water Works Department has 418 total violations: 10 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 199 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Pella Water Works Department water? ▼
No. Pella Water Works Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Pella Water Works Department use? ▼
Pella Water Works Department uses Groundwater 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.