Polk, 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 Polk in Iowa · Population: 497,441
TRI sites such as Adm Soybean Processing; John Deere Des Moines Works; Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC; SDWIS systems such as DES MOINES WATER WORKS; ANKENY, CITY OF; WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS; NPL sites such as Des Moines TCE; Lot 46 Valley Gardens TCE; Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination anchor Polk, IA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 78/100 (High 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 Polk include DES MOINES WATER WORKS; ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY; MITCHELLVILLE WATER SUPPLY, while Adm Soybean Processing leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 45 / peak 93 in 2024.
Burden score 78/100 (High 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 Polk -- 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 Polk, IA: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
-24.9%
32 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
-24.9%
744.5 thousand lb → 559.1 thousand lb, every facility that filed
Between the two reporting years, 0 facilities filed for the first time and 2 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.
- Polk, IA's total reported releases fell from 744.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 559.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Polk, IA's off-site transfers fell from 104.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 28.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Polk, IA's air releases fell from 631.3 thousand lb in 2022 to 522.7 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Polk, IA's water releases rose from 1.6 thousand lb in 2022 to 1.7 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 | 247 (67%) | 119 | 0 | 93 |
| 2023 | 168 (46%) | 182 | 12 | 166 |
| 2022 | 273 (75%) | 92 | 0 | 89 |
| 2021 | 227 (62%) | 137 | 1 | 110 |
| 2020 | 261 (71%) | 103 | 0 | 199 |
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 (35)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| DES MOINES WATER WORKS | 246,055 | 2 |
| ANKENY, CITY OF | 76,207 | 0 |
| WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS | 73,959 | 0 |
| URBANDALE WATER UTILITY | 45,605 | 0 |
| JOHNSTON MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY | 24,897 | 0 |
| CLIVE WATER DEPARTMENT | 20,277 | 0 |
| ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY | 19,565 | 3 |
| GRIMES WATER SUPPLY | 17,809 | 0 |
| BONDURANT MUNI WATER SUPPLY | 9,393 | 0 |
| SOUTHEAST POLK RWD | 7,565 | 0 |
| POLK CITY WATER SUPPLY | 6,533 | 0 |
| MITCHELLVILLE WATER SUPPLY | 2,515 | 2 |
| PARK VIEW VILLAGE | 1,800 | 0 |
| GRANGER MUNI WATER SUPPLY | 1,654 | 0 |
| SLATER MUNI WATER DEPT | 1,548 | 3 |
| CAMP DODGE WATER SUPPLY | 1,169 | 0 |
| ELKHART WATER SUPPLY | 882 | 0 |
| MAXWELL WATER DEPARTMENT | 859 | 0 |
| VAL VISTA ESTATES | 553 | 0 |
| SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. | 393 | 0 |
| HICKORY HOLLOW WATER SERVICE, INC. | 375 | 0 |
| PLEASANT VALLEY LE LLC | 350 | 0 |
| GREENWOOD ACRES WATER CO. | 325 | 0 |
| SHELDAHL WATER SUPPLY | 307 | 4 |
| DMWW-GREENBRIER ESTATES | 300 | 0 |
| OAKWOOD PARK WATER INC. | 218 | 0 |
| RIVER OAKS DEVELOPMENT | 215 | 0 |
| WILDWOOD WATER CORPORATION | 170 | 0 |
| GRIMES MHP MHC | 163 | 0 |
| CASTLE CREEK MEMORY CARE | 86 | 2 |
| DEER HUNTERS RUN | 78 | 0 |
| CIWW (DMWW) | 25 | 0 |
| CIWW (GRIMES) | 25 | 0 |
| CIWW ( POLK CITY) | 25 | 0 |
| CIWW (WDMWW) | 25 | 0 |
TRI Facilities (36)
Superfund Sites (3)
| Site Name | Status | HRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines TCE | NPL Site | 42.28 |
| Lot 46 Valley Gardens TCE | NPL Site | 50.00 |
| Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination | NPL Site | 50.00 |
Cities in Polk (17)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Polk, Iowa? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Polk? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Polk? ▼
What is the air quality in Polk? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Polk? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Polk? ▼
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.