01The verdict: is Le Grand water safe?
Le Grand's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (91.1/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 910 residents using groundwater (wells).
2 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items 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 1.1 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓Check back after the next refresh
EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.
Get alerts ↓Le Grand's drinking water received a grade of A (91.1 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 910 residents using purchased ground water.
Lead levels were measured at 1.1 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 9 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
Le Grand ranks #154 out of 430 cities in Iowa for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. Le Grand purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition. As a small community water system, Le Grand may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Le Grand's water
Every contaminant flagged in Le Grand, 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. | 1.1 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Iowa
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Iowa
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Le Grand'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 9 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Le Grand.
▼ Down 6.1 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 1.1 ppb (2023) — 7% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Le Grand's water comes from
Le Grand purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.
Purchased Groundwater
Water is bought from a regional wholesaler; quality starts at the supplier's intake and treatment.
Wholesale supplier
Primary treatment happens at the wholesaler; the local utility maintains disinfectant residual in its pipes.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
910 people
Residents served across Le Grand's service area.
Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Le Grand's local distribution pipes and storage facilities. Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 910 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| LE GRAND WATER WORKS | IA6457070 | 910 | Purchased Groundwater |
05Pressure on Le Grand'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.
Industrial discharge
5 facilities within 10 miles reported 21 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
06How Le Grand compares
Scores for nearby Iowa cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Iowa average (72/100)
Le Grand scores 91.1/100 — above the Iowa average of 72/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full Iowa rankings →
85 / 100CDavenport, IA
55 / 100DCedar Rapids, IA
45.5 / 100FIowa City, IA
42 / 100BAmes, IA
81.5 / 100BSioux City, IA
77.3 / 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 Le Grand's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Le Grand'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 Le Grand 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 Le Grand, IA tap water safe to drink?
Le Grand's water quality earned a grade of A (91.1/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #154 out of 430 cities tested in Iowa.
What contaminants are in Le Grand's water?
Lead was measured at 1.1 ppb (90th percentile). 9 violations are on record.
How is Le Grand'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 Le Grand?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Le Grand's water come from?
Le Grand's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 910 residents.
What health violations has Le Grand's water system had?
Le Grand has 2 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2002. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 2 violations remain unresolved.
Is Le Grand's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Le Grand 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 9 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 Le Grand's water compare to other cities?
Le Grand ranks #154 out of 430 cities in Iowa (better than 64% of state cities) and #1877 out of 15382 cities nationally (88th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Le Grand's small water system affect quality?
Le Grand's system serves approximately 910 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 9 violations on record.