01The verdict: is Van Horne water safe?
Van Horne's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (93.1/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 779 residents using gup.
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 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
9 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Van Horne's drinking water received a grade of A (93.1 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 779 residents using gup.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 11 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 1 remains unresolved.
Van Horne ranks #70 out of 430 cities in Iowa for water quality, placing it above average in the state. As a small community water system, Van Horne may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Van Horne's water
Every contaminant flagged in Van Horne, 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. | 0.0 | 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
03Van Horne'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 11 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 1 remains unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Van Horne.
▼ Down 14 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2023) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Van Horne's water comes from
Van Horne's water comes from groundwater under the direct influence of surface water, a designation that requires the same treatment rigor as surface water systems.
GUP
Source details for this system are limited in EPA records.
Local treatment
Treatment is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
779 people
Residents served across Van Horne's service area.
This source type is vulnerable to both surface contamination pathways and naturally occurring underground contaminants. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 779 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAN HORNE WATER WORKS | IA0685045 | 779 | GUP |
05Pressure on Van Horne'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
9 federal disaster declarations on record for Benton County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Van Horne compares
Scores for nearby Iowa cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Iowa average (72/100)
Van Horne scores 93.1/100 — 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 Van Horne's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Van Horne'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 Van Horne alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Van Horne, IA tap water safe to drink?
Van Horne's water quality earned a grade of A (93.1/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #70 out of 430 cities tested in Iowa.
What contaminants are in Van Horne's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 11 violations are on record.
How is Van Horne'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 Van Horne?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Van Horne's water come from?
Van Horne's water is sourced from GUP. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 779 residents.
What health violations has Van Horne's water system had?
Van Horne has 1 health-based violation on record. The most recent violation was recorded in February 2012. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.
How does Van Horne's water compare to other cities?
Van Horne ranks #70 out of 430 cities in Iowa (better than 84% of state cities) and #970 out of 15382 cities nationally (94th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Van Horne's small water system affect quality?
Van Horne's system serves approximately 779 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 11 violations on record.