PFAS Contamination

PFAS in Iowa Drinking Water

Ranked by number of PFAS compounds detected · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

131

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

1.3 compounds

State Avg

▼ 16% vs national

vs National

297

Health Violations

Analysis

PFAS in Iowa: what the data shows

Iowa has 131 cities with PFAS monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program. PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in 111 of those cities (85%), with some cities exceeding the EPA's 2024 maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt. The state average is better than the national average. 7 cities exceed the EPA MCL for at least one PFAS compound. PFAS are linked to cancer, immune system disruption, and developmental issues. The 2024 EPA rule requires water systems exceeding the MCL to notify customers and reduce levels by 2029. PFAS data comes from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5), which required large water systems to test for 29 PFAS compounds between 2023–2025. Not all systems have completed testing — cities without data may still have PFAS present.

Comparison

Cities exceeding EPA MCL (4 ppt each)

Iowa

7 of 131 cities

← ▼ 16% below national rate (better)

National avg

21%

1636 of 7745 cities

City Map

PFAS data across Iowa

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. PFAS-tested cities are shown; those exceeding the 4 ppt EPA MCL appear in red. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by pfas level in Iowa

Highest PFAS levels (compounds)

All Cities

All Iowa cities ranked by pfas level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Sioux City	10 compounds	Yes	14	B
2	Muscatine	7 compounds	Yes	46	F
3	Waverly	7 compounds	Yes	2	B+
4	Clinton	6 compounds	No	0	A-
5	Waterloo	5 compounds	No	3	A-
6	West Burlington	5 compounds	Yes	17	B+
7	Council Bluffs	4 compounds	No	8	B+
8	Burlington	4 compounds	No	7	B+
9	Keokuk	3 compounds	No	0	A-
10	Hiawatha	3 compounds	No	12	B-
11	Davenport	2 compounds	Yes	2	C-
12	Dubuque	2 compounds	Yes	30	F
13	Ottumwa	2 compounds	No	6	B+
14	Fort Madison	2 compounds	No	6	A
15	Bondurant	2 compounds	No	1	A
16	Spirit Lake	2 compounds	No	4	A
17	Carter Lake	2 compounds	No	6	A-
18	Osage	2 compounds	Yes	9	B+
19	Graettinger	2 compounds	No	4	A
20	Cambridge	2 compounds	No	1	A-
21	Okoboji	2 compounds	No	1	A
22	Des Moines	1 compounds	No	7	B+
23	Iowa City	1 compounds	No	171	F
24	Ames	1 compounds	No	15	B+
25	Ankeny	1 compounds	No	15	B
26	West Des Moines	1 compounds	No	1	B+
27	Urbandale	1 compounds	No	0	B+
28	Marion	1 compounds	No	6	A-
29	Cedar Falls	1 compounds	No	4	A-
30	Centerville	1 compounds	No	4	B+
31	Indianola	1 compounds	No	7	A-
32	Waukee	1 compounds	No	13	A-
33	Creston	1 compounds	No	9	A-
34	Marshalltown	1 compounds	No	4	A-
35	Mason City	1 compounds	No	18	A-
36	Fort Dodge	1 compounds	No	19	D+
37	Johnston	1 compounds	No	6	B+
38	Oskaloosa	1 compounds	No	11	A-
39	Coralville	1 compounds	No	15	B
40	North Liberty	1 compounds	No	29	B-
41	Altoona	1 compounds	No	20	B+
42	Clive	1 compounds	No	1	A
43	Spencer	1 compounds	No	1	A
44	Newton	1 compounds	No	2	A
45	Grimes	1 compounds	No	13	A-
46	Knoxville	1 compounds	No	2	B
47	Norwalk	1 compounds	No	1	A
48	Minburn	1 compounds	No	6	A-
49	Boone	1 compounds	No	9	B
50	Storm Lake	1 compounds	No	1	A-
51	Pella	1 compounds	No	4	A-
52	Le Mars	1 compounds	No	2	A
53	Fairfield	1 compounds	No	15	A-
54	Carroll	1 compounds	No	0	B
55	Cherokee	1 compounds	No	2	A-
56	Grinnell	1 compounds	No	13	D+
57	Denison	1 compounds	No	0	A
58	Mount Pleasant	1 compounds	No	2	A
59	Clarinda	1 compounds	No	48	B
60	Decorah	1 compounds	No	11	B+
61	Sioux Center	1 compounds	No	0	A-
62	Tama	1 compounds	No	1	A-
63	Perry	1 compounds	No	3	A
64	Webster City	1 compounds	No	3	A
65	Clear Lake	1 compounds	No	2	A-
66	Washington	1 compounds	No	13	B+
67	Atlantic	1 compounds	No	0	A-
68	May City	1 compounds	No	0	A-
69	Nevada	1 compounds	No	7	A
70	Polk City	1 compounds	No	0	B+
71	Rock Valley	1 compounds	No	13	B+
72	Orange City	1 compounds	No	0	A-
73	Maquoketa	1 compounds	No	18	A-
74	Ireton	1 compounds	No	4	A-
75	Asbury	1 compounds	No	0	A+
76	Rock Rapids	1 compounds	No	12	B+
77	Oelwein	1 compounds	No	2	A
78	Estherville	1 compounds	No	0	A
79	Avoca	1 compounds	No	6	A
80	Anamosa	1 compounds	No	5	B-
81	Red Oak	1 compounds	No	9	A-
82	Sheldon	1 compounds	No	0	A
83	Osceola	1 compounds	No	21	B
84	Algona	1 compounds	No	14	B
85	Glenwood	1 compounds	No	13	A+
86	Iowa Falls	1 compounds	No	6	B
87	Sergeant Bluff	1 compounds	No	3	A
88	Luther	1 compounds	No	8	A
89	Manning	1 compounds	No	4	A-
90	Shenandoah	1 compounds	No	2	A
91	Humboldt	1 compounds	No	1	A
92	Camanche	1 compounds	No	0	A
93	Mount Vernon	1 compounds	No	0	A
94	Dyersville	1 compounds	No	23	A
95	Hampton	1 compounds	No	10	A-
96	Chariton	1 compounds	No	64	B-
97	Forest City	1 compounds	No	8	B
98	Carlisle	1 compounds	No	0	A-
99	Hospers	1 compounds	No	5	B+
100	West Liberty	1 compounds	No	6	A
101	Emmetsburg	1 compounds	No	1	A-
102	Albia	1 compounds	No	5	A
103	Eagle Grove	1 compounds	No	0	A
104	New Hampton	1 compounds	No	0	A
105	Onawa	1 compounds	No	0	A-
106	Woodward	1 compounds	No	17	B
107	Melcher-Dallas	1 compounds	No	3	A
108	Anita	1 compounds	No	1	A
109	Wall Lake	1 compounds	No	4	A-
110	Bancroft	1 compounds	No	0	A+
111	Stratford	1 compounds	No	6	A-
112	Cedar Rapids	0 compounds	No	31	D
113	Eldridge	0 compounds	No	9	B+
114	Charles City	0 compounds	No	0	A-
115	Adel	0 compounds	No	2	A
116	Independence	0 compounds	No	4	A
117	Winterset	0 compounds	No	20	A-
118	Manchester	0 compounds	No	1	A
119	Harlan	0 compounds	No	0	A-
120	Vinton	0 compounds	No	4	A
121	Evansdale	0 compounds	No	0	A+
122	Huxley	0 compounds	No	1	A
123	Jefferson	0 compounds	No	2	A
124	Monticello	0 compounds	No	22	D
125	Cresco	0 compounds	No	0	A+
126	Waukon	0 compounds	No	0	A
127	Story City	0 compounds	No	0	A
128	Belle Plaine	0 compounds	No	2	B+
129	Brooklyn	0 compounds	No	10	A+
130	Clarksville	0 compounds	No	1	A
131	Clermont	0 compounds	No	4	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pfas in Iowa

Does Iowa tap water contain PFAS?

PFAS were detected in 111 of 131 Iowa cities tested under EPA's UCMR 5 program. 7 cities exceed the 2024 EPA MCL of 4 ppt for individual PFAS compounds.

How can I remove PFAS from my drinking water in Iowa?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing PFAS, typically removing 90%+ of compounds. High-quality activated carbon block filters (NSF 58-certified for RO, or NSF 53 for solid carbon) also provide significant reduction. Standard pitcher filters vary widely in PFAS removal.

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