PFAS Contamination

PFAS in Iowa Drinking Water

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

132

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

1.3 compounds

State Avg

▼ 16% vs national

vs National

303

Health Violations

Analysis

PFAS in Iowa: what the data shows

Iowa has 132 cities with PFAS monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program. PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in 112 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 132 cities

← ▼ 16% below national rate (better)

National avg

21%

1662 of 7853 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	Waverly	7 compounds	Yes	2	B+
3	Muscatine	7 compounds	Yes	46	F
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	Graettinger	2 compounds	No	4	A
16	Bondurant	2 compounds	No	1	A
17	Spirit Lake	2 compounds	No	4	A
18	Carter Lake	2 compounds	No	6	A-
19	Osage	2 compounds	Yes	9	B+
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	Marshalltown	1 compounds	No	4	A-
34	Creston	1 compounds	No	9	A-
35	Mason City	1 compounds	No	18	A-
36	Fort Dodge	1 compounds	No	19	D+
37	Altoona	1 compounds	No	20	B+
38	Johnston	1 compounds	No	6	B+
39	Coralville	1 compounds	No	15	B
40	Oskaloosa	1 compounds	No	11	A-
41	North Liberty	1 compounds	No	29	B-
42	Clive	1 compounds	No	1	A
43	Spencer	1 compounds	No	1	A
44	Grimes	1 compounds	No	13	A-
45	Newton	1 compounds	No	2	A
46	Knoxville	1 compounds	No	2	B
47	Norwalk	1 compounds	No	1	A
48	Boone	1 compounds	No	9	B
49	Minburn	1 compounds	No	6	A-
50	Denison	1 compounds	No	0	A
51	Storm Lake	1 compounds	No	1	A-
52	Pella	1 compounds	No	4	A-
53	Mount Pleasant	1 compounds	No	2	A
54	Le Mars	1 compounds	No	2	A
55	Fairfield	1 compounds	No	15	A-
56	Carroll	1 compounds	No	0	B
57	Cherokee	1 compounds	No	2	A-
58	Grinnell	1 compounds	No	13	D+
59	Osceola	1 compounds	No	21	B
60	Red Oak	1 compounds	No	9	A-
61	Clarinda	1 compounds	No	48	B
62	Decorah	1 compounds	No	11	B+
63	Sioux Center	1 compounds	No	0	A-
64	Tama	1 compounds	No	1	A-
65	Perry	1 compounds	No	3	A
66	Webster City	1 compounds	No	3	A
67	Clear Lake	1 compounds	No	2	A-
68	Washington	1 compounds	No	13	B+
69	Atlantic	1 compounds	No	0	A-
70	May City	1 compounds	No	0	A-
71	Nevada	1 compounds	No	7	A
72	Stratford	1 compounds	No	6	A-
73	Polk City	1 compounds	No	0	B+
74	Rock Valley	1 compounds	No	13	B+
75	Orange City	1 compounds	No	0	A-
76	Maquoketa	1 compounds	No	18	A-
77	Ireton	1 compounds	No	4	A-
78	Asbury	1 compounds	No	0	A+
79	Rock Rapids	1 compounds	No	12	B+
80	Oelwein	1 compounds	No	2	A
81	Estherville	1 compounds	No	0	A
82	Avoca	1 compounds	No	6	A
83	Algona	1 compounds	No	14	B
84	Anamosa	1 compounds	No	5	B-
85	De Witt	1 compounds	No	26	B+
86	Sheldon	1 compounds	No	0	A
87	Woodward	1 compounds	No	17	B
88	Glenwood	1 compounds	No	13	A+
89	Iowa Falls	1 compounds	No	6	B
90	Sergeant Bluff	1 compounds	No	3	A
91	Luther	1 compounds	No	8	A
92	Manning	1 compounds	No	4	A-
93	Shenandoah	1 compounds	No	2	A
94	Humboldt	1 compounds	No	1	A
95	Camanche	1 compounds	No	0	A
96	Mount Vernon	1 compounds	No	0	A
97	Dyersville	1 compounds	No	23	A
98	Hampton	1 compounds	No	10	A-
99	Chariton	1 compounds	No	64	B-
100	Forest City	1 compounds	No	8	B
101	Carlisle	1 compounds	No	0	A-
102	Hospers	1 compounds	No	5	B+
103	West Liberty	1 compounds	No	6	A
104	Emmetsburg	1 compounds	No	1	A-
105	Albia	1 compounds	No	5	A
106	Eagle Grove	1 compounds	No	0	A
107	New Hampton	1 compounds	No	0	A
108	Onawa	1 compounds	No	0	A-
109	Wall Lake	1 compounds	No	4	A-
110	Melcher-Dallas	1 compounds	No	3	A
111	Anita	1 compounds	No	1	A
112	Bancroft	1 compounds	No	0	A+
113	Cedar Rapids	0 compounds	No	31	D
114	Brooklyn	0 compounds	No	10	A+
115	Eldridge	0 compounds	No	9	B+
116	Charles City	0 compounds	No	0	A-
117	Adel	0 compounds	No	2	A
118	Independence	0 compounds	No	4	A
119	Winterset	0 compounds	No	20	A-
120	Manchester	0 compounds	No	1	A
121	Harlan	0 compounds	No	0	A-
122	Vinton	0 compounds	No	4	A
123	Evansdale	0 compounds	No	0	A+
124	Huxley	0 compounds	No	1	A
125	Jefferson	0 compounds	No	2	A
126	Monticello	0 compounds	No	22	D
127	Cresco	0 compounds	No	0	A+
128	Waukon	0 compounds	No	0	A
129	Story City	0 compounds	No	0	A
130	Belle Plaine	0 compounds	No	2	B+
131	Clarksville	0 compounds	No	1	A
132	Clermont	0 compounds	No	4	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pfas in Iowa

Does Iowa tap water contain PFAS?

PFAS were detected in 112 of 132 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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