Wapello, IA

Moderate Risk (30/100)

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. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against other tracked counties rather than against these fixed caps.

Environmental data for Wapello in Iowa · Population: 35,265

TRI sites such as Jbs Pork; Ottumwa Generating Station; John Deere Ottumwa Works; SDWIS systems such as OTTUMWA WATER WORKS; WAPELLO RURAL WATER ASSOC.; AGENCY WATER WORKS; NPL sites such as John Deere (Ottumwa Works Landfills) anchor Wapello, IA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 30/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Jbs Pork; Ottumwa Generating Station; John Deere Ottumwa Works are among the largest Form R filers reporting in Wapello; no SDWIS system here carries an active health-based flag. No AQS county monitors report here.

Burden score 30/100 (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 Wapello -- 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 Wapello, IA: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-13.3%

4 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

-13.3%

654.4 thousand lb → 567.3 thousand lb, every facility that filed

  • Wapello, IA's total reported releases fell from 654.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 567.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Wapello, IA's off-site transfers fell from 49.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 28.2 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Wapello, IA's water releases fell from 499.3 thousand lb in 2022 to 443.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Wapello, IA's air releases fell from 105.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 96.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
35,265
TRI Facilities
4
Water Systems
5
Superfund Sites
1
Total Releases
4.4M lbs

Water Systems (5)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
OTTUMWA WATER WORKS 25,529 0
WAPELLO RURAL WATER ASSOC. 17,263 0
AGENCY WATER WORKS 620 0
BLAKESBURG MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS 305 0
LEISURE LIVING MANF HOME COMMUNITY 150 0

TRI Facilities (4)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Jbs Pork 3.3M lbs
2 Ottumwa Generating Station 1.0M lbs
3 John Deere Ottumwa Works 72.9K lbs
4 Praxis Mid America 10.8K lbs

Superfund Sites (1)

Site Name Status HRS Score
John Deere (Ottumwa Works Landfills) Deleted NPL Site 42.32

Cities in Wapello (3)

Ottumwa
4 facilities · 3 water
Agency
0 facilities · 1 water
Blakesburg
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Wapello, Iowa?
Wapello, IA has an environmental risk score of 30/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 4 TRI facilities, 1 Superfund sites, and 5 water systems on record. No water systems have current health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Wapello?
Yes, Wapello, IA has 1 Superfund site 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 Wapello?
Wapello, IA has 4 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 4.4M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Wapello?
Air quality monitoring data (EPA AQS) is not available for Wapello, IA. This may indicate no EPA monitoring stations are located in the county. For regional air quality data, see the state environmental profile or visit EPA's AirNow.gov.
Is the drinking water safe in Wapello?
Wapello, IA has 5 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 Wapello?
Environmental compliance in Wapello, 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