Des Moines Water Quality
Iowa
According to EPA SDWIS, Des Moines, Iowa is served by 6 community water systems covering about 254,584 people. The same extract lists 4 health-based violation records, most recently coded 5200 in 2024. Counts are historical EPA registry rows, not a current compliance or drinkability score.
Drinking water in Des Moines, Iowa is delivered through 6 EPA-regulated community water systems serving an estimated 254,584 people. Each system is tracked in the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which requires testing for regulated contaminants, consumer notification of violations, and publication of an annual Consumer Confidence Report.
PlainEnviro's health-based SDWIS extract shows 4 violation records across the 6 active community systems shown here. Monitoring and reporting records are not present in the extract. The records carry 2 distinct EPA contaminant codes: LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, Surface Water Treatment Rule. 21 TRI-reporting industrial facilities are also located within the city limits.
A past EPA health-based registry row does not describe water delivered today or current compliance status; utilities notify customers and remediate under state primacy oversight when required. For current water-quality status and treatment practices, review your local utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report or contact the Iowa drinking water program. All records above reflect federal EPA SDWIS data and are not independently verified against state databases.
Community Water Systems
| System Name | Pop. Served | Violations | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DES MOINES WATER WORKS | 246,055 | 2 | Health |
| SOUTHEAST POLK RWD | 7,565 | 0 | Clean |
| VAL VISTA ESTATES | 553 | 0 | Clean |
| DMWW-GREENBRIER ESTATES | 300 | 0 | Clean |
| CASTLE CREEK MEMORY CARE | 86 | 2 | Health |
| CIWW (DMWW) | 25 | 0 | Clean |
Does this city have health-based water violations?
These health-based records can represent Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), or Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) categories. A historical record does not establish that water is currently unsafe.
| Water system | Contaminant | Begin Date |
|---|---|---|
| CASTLE CREEK MEMORY CARE | LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 2024-10-17 |
| CASTLE CREEK MEMORY CARE | LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 2024-10-17 |
| DES MOINES WATER WORKS | Surface Water Treatment Rule | 2017-05-01 |
| DES MOINES WATER WORKS | Surface Water Treatment Rule | 2017-05-01 |
What are Des Moines's health-based records for?
Des Moines's health-based violation records carry 2 distinct EPA codes: some name a substance, others the drinking-water rule that was breached. Counts are records on file in the EPA SDWIS extract, not current test results.
| Contaminant | Records | Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | 2 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | 2 | 1 |
TRI Facilities in Des Moines
| Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|
| Adm Soybean Processing | 2.8M lbs |
| Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC | 82.8K lbs |
| Adm Animal Nutrition | 66.6K lbs |
| Safety-Kleen Systems Des Moines (des) | 39.4K lbs |
| Construction Products Inc | 20.5K lbs |
| Diamond Animal Health | 12.6K lbs |
| Central Iowa Ready Mix | 12.4K lbs |
| Kansas City Sausage Co D/b/a Pine Ridge Farms | 10.3K lbs |
| Helena Industries LLC | 9.4K lbs |
| Barton Solvents Inc Des Moines | 9.3K lbs |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does EPA SDWIS list for drinking water in Des Moines, Iowa? ▼
How many water violations does Des Moines have in this EPA extract? ▼
What contaminants were found in Des Moines water? ▼
How many water systems serve Des Moines? ▼
Where does Des Moines get its drinking water? ▼
Are there pollution sources near Des Moines? ▼
How does Des Moines compare in Iowa?
Of the 598 Iowa places with at least one community water system on file, Des Moines ranks #25 by number of systems (6).
Either side of it: Centerville (6), Creston (6), Manly (6), Newell (6)
About This Data
Figures here are the current EPA SDWIS extract joined to the 6 community water systems whose service area lists Des Moines, ranked against the 598 Iowa places with at least one system on file. Data current as of 2026-08-25.
Water system data comes from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). PlainEnviro's violation fetch is restricted upstream to records EPA flags as health-based and then joined to active community water systems. Monitoring and reporting violations are not included.
A health-based violation row in this extract is a historical EPA registry entry. It does not describe water delivered today or current compliance status. Many records are later resolved, and public water systems notify customers when required. For current conditions, contact your local water utility or the state drinking water program.
TRI facility data comes from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory. Facilities shown are those that self-report to the TRI program. PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.