Cerro Gordo, IA

Moderate Risk (41/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Cerro Gordo in Iowa · Population: 42,785

TRI sites such as Ag Processing Inc; Kraft Heinz Foods Co; Curries Div of Aadg Inc.; SDWIS systems such as MASON CITY WATER DEPARTMENT; CLEAR LAKE WATER DEPARTMENT; ROCKWELL WATER SUPPLY; NPL sites such as Mason City Coal Gasification Plant; Northwestern States Portland Cement Co. anchor Cerro Gordo, IA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 41/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Ag Processing Inc; Kraft Heinz Foods Co; Curries Div of Aadg Inc. are among the largest Form R filers reporting in Cerro Gordo; no SDWIS system here carries an active health-based flag. AQS median AQI 19 / peak 56 in 2023.

Burden score 41/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Cerro Gordo -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Cerro Gordo, IA: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-11.3%

9 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

-11.3%

203.2 thousand lb → 180.2 thousand lb, every facility that filed

  • Cerro Gordo, IA's total reported releases fell from 203.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 180.2 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Cerro Gordo, IA's land releases rose from 3 lb in 2022 to 3.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Cerro Gordo, IA's chemicals reported rose from 22 in 2022 to 27 in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Cerro Gordo, IA's air releases fell from 166.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 144.9 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
42,785
TRI Facilities
13
Water Systems
6
Superfund Sites
2
Total Releases
973.9K lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2023)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2023 58 (97%) 2 0 56
2022 116 (99%) 1 0 61
2021 118 (98%) 2 0 56
2020 120 (98%) 2 0 60
2023 Good Air Quality: 97% of days
Median AQI: 19

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Iowa, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (6)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
MASON CITY WATER DEPARTMENT 27,338 0
CLEAR LAKE WATER DEPARTMENT 7,687 0
ROCKWELL WATER SUPPLY 1,071 0
VENTURA WATER WORKS 716 0
PLYMOUTH WATER SUPPLY 378 0
LONG BEACH MOBILE PARK 50 0

TRI Facilities (13)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Ag Processing Inc 360.2K lbs
2 Kraft Heinz Foods Co 175.9K lbs
3 Curries Div of Aadg Inc. 148.9K lbs
4 Woodharbor Doors & Cabinetry 98.7K lbs
5 Golden Grain Energy LLC 91.6K lbs
6 Heidelberg Materials US Cement LLC 46.4K lbs
7 Reg Mason City LLC 42.8K lbs
8 Minnesota Rubber & Plastics 6.3K lbs
9 Masonite Corp - 19TH St Facility 2.0K lbs
10 Masonite Corp - 12TH St Facility 963 lbs
11 Midland Concrete Products 0 lbs
12 Purina Animal Nutrition LLC - Mason City 0 lbs
13 Stellar Industries Inc. - Mason City Plant 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (2)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Mason City Coal Gasification Plant NPL Site 69.33
Northwestern States Portland Cement Co. Deleted NPL Site 57.80

Cities in Cerro Gordo (5)

Mason City
12 facilities · 1 water
Clear Lake
1 facilities · 2 water
Plymouth
0 facilities · 1 water
Rockwell
0 facilities · 1 water
Ventura
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Cerro Gordo, Iowa?
Cerro Gordo, IA has an environmental risk score of 41/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 13 TRI facilities, 2 Superfund sites, and 6 water systems on record. No water systems have current health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Cerro Gordo?
Yes, Cerro Gordo, IA has 2 Superfund sites on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Cerro Gordo?
Cerro Gordo, IA has 13 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 973.9K lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Cerro Gordo?
In 2023, Cerro Gordo, IA recorded a median AQI of 19 and a peak AQI of 56. 97% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Cerro Gordo?
Cerro Gordo, IA has 6 EPA-regulated water systems. No health-based violations are currently on record. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Cerro Gordo?
Environmental compliance in Cerro Gordo, Iowa is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Iowa state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro