Palo Alto, IA
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 Palo Alto in Iowa · Population: 8,902
TRI sites such as Ag Processing Inc; Poet-Dsm Project Liberty LLC; Poet Biorefining - Emmetsburg LLC; SDWIS systems such as EMMETSBURG MUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENT; GRAETTINGER MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY; RUTHVEN WATER SUPPLY anchor Palo Alto, IA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 24/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Palo Alto include MALLARD WATER SUPPLY, while Ag Processing Inc leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 42 / peak 96 in 2024.
Burden score 24/100 (Low 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 Palo Alto -- 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 Palo Alto, IA: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
+12.7%
2 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
+12.7%
84.4 thousand lb → 95.1 thousand lb, every facility that filed
- Palo Alto, IA's total reported releases rose from 84.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 95.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Palo Alto, IA's off-site transfers fell from 235 lb in 2022 to 154 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Palo Alto, IA's chemicals reported rose from 6 in 2022 to 7 in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Palo Alto, IA's air releases rose from 84.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 95.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 268 (74%) | 95 | 0 | 96 |
| 2023 | 211 (58%) | 135 | 14 | 161 |
| 2022 | 271 (74%) | 94 | 0 | 79 |
| 2021 | 250 (69%) | 108 | 2 | 167 |
| 2020 | 273 (75%) | 93 | 0 | 87 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| EMMETSBURG MUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENT | 3,733 | 0 |
| GRAETTINGER MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY | 897 | 0 |
| RUTHVEN WATER SUPPLY | 779 | 0 |
| WEST BEND WATER DEPARTMENT | 772 | 0 |
| MALLARD WATER SUPPLY | 257 | 53 |
| RODMAN WATER SYSTEM | 31 | 0 |
TRI Facilities (3)
| # | Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ag Processing Inc | 372.2K lbs |
| 2 | Poet-Dsm Project Liberty LLC | 98.2K lbs |
| 3 | Poet Biorefining - Emmetsburg LLC | 33.4K lbs |
Cities in Palo Alto (5)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Palo Alto, Iowa? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Palo Alto? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Palo Alto? ▼
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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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.