01The verdict: is Downey water safe?
Downey's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (92.1/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 625 residents using groundwater (wells).
1 unresolved violation on record
EPA records show an open compliance item for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 2.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓1 violation in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Downey's drinking water received a grade of A (92.1 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 625 residents using groundwater.
Lead levels were measured at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 71 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
Downey ranks #14 out of 139 cities in Idaho for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state. Downey relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Downey may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Downey's water
Every contaminant flagged in Downey, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 2.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Idaho
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Idaho
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Downey's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 71 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 13 ppb since 1997. Latest reading: 2 ppb (2024) — 13% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Downey's water comes from
Downey's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
625 people
Residents served across Downey's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 625 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOWNEY CITY OF | ID6030012 | 625 | Groundwater |
Water bodies near Downey
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Downey's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
2 federal disaster declarations on record for Bannock County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Bannock County is in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Downey compares
Scores for nearby Idaho cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Idaho average (43/100)
Downey scores 92.1/100 — above the Idaho average of 43/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full Idaho rankings →
33.6 / 100FMeridian, ID
42.9 / 100FNampa, ID
41.8 / 100DIdaho Falls, ID
46.6 / 100FCaldwell, ID
38.5 / 100FPocatello, ID
42.5 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Downey's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Downey's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Downey alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Downey, ID tap water safe to drink?
Downey's water quality earned a grade of A (92.1/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #14 out of 139 cities tested in Idaho.
What contaminants are in Downey's water?
Lead was measured at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile). 71 violations are on record.
How is Downey's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Downey?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Downey's water come from?
Downey's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 625 residents.
What health violations has Downey's water system had?
Downey has 2 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in April 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.
Is Downey's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Downey uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 71 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Downey's water compare to other cities?
Downey ranks #14 out of 139 cities in Idaho (better than 90% of state cities) and #1374 out of 15382 cities nationally (91th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Downey's small water system affect quality?
Downey's system serves approximately 625 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 71 violations on record.