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Community Water System · PWS IA9083012

Ottumwa Water Works

Ottumwa, Iowa 52501 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 25,529 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

25,529
People served
79
EPA violations
17
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 79 drinking-water violations at Ottumwa Water Works, 22% of them health-based - above the Iowa per-system average.

79
Total EPA violations on record
22%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
25,529
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Ottumwa Water Works

Ottumwa Water Works is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 25,529 residents in Ottumwa, Iowa (Wapello County) through 9,800 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 79 total violations for this system , of which 17 (22%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 48 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 17 violations (MCL, health-based). 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%).

Ottumwa Water Works's 79 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
25,529
Total Violations
79
Health-Based Violations
17
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
9,800
County
Wapello
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
17
Monitoring Violations
48
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 17 2009
CARBON, TOTAL MR 9 2024
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 7 1989
Nitrate MR 5 2024
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 5 2015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2022
TTHM MR 4 2022
Arsenic MR 3 1990
Chromium MR 3 1990
Mercury MR 3 1990
Cadmium MR 3 1990
Barium MR 3 1990
Selenium MR 3 1990
Fluoride MR 1 1982

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 66 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFTA 9/11/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/11/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/11/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/12/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/12/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/12/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/12/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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
4:2 FTS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 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
PFUnA 6/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 3/7/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 3/7/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 3/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 3/7/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 12/11/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 12/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 12/11/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 12/11/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 10/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 10/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 10/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 10/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 10/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 10/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 10/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 10/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 10/12/2023 <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 Ottumwa Water Works.

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 IA9083012 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
2024 CARBON, TOTAL MR 9 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 2920
2024 Nitrate MR 5 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 1040
2022 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 2456
2022 TTHM MR 4 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 2950
2015 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 5 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 7000
2009 Coliform (TCR) MCL 17 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 3100
1990 Arsenic MR 3 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 1005
1990 Chromium MR 3 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 1020
1990 Mercury MR 3 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 1035
1990 Cadmium MR 3 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 1015
1990 Barium MR 3 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 1010
1990 Selenium MR 3 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 1045
1989 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 7 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 4000
1982 Fluoride MR 1 SDWIS / IA9083012 / 1025

How Ottumwa Water Works Compares

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

Metric Ottumwa Water Works Iowa avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 79 77 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 17 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 25,529 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 Ottumwa Water Works water safe to drink? ▼
Ottumwa Water Works (PWS ID: IA9083012) has 79 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 25,529 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Ottumwa Water Works serve? ▼
Ottumwa Water Works serves 25,529 people in Ottumwa, Iowa. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 9,800 service connections.
What type of violations does Ottumwa Water Works have? ▼
Ottumwa Water Works has 79 total violations: 17 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 48 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Ottumwa Water Works water? ▼
No. Ottumwa Water Works was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Ottumwa Water Works use? ▼
Ottumwa Water Works 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.