Is Cedar Rapids, IA Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in Cedar Rapids's water

The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.

Contaminant	Level vs EPA limit	Suppliers	Source
Nitrate	8230 µg/L 82% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	5/9	SYR4
Fluoride	750 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L	7/9	SYR4
Copper	620 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L	8/9	SYR4
Barium	260 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L	6/9	SYR4
Lead	128 µg/L 853% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L	7/9	SYR4
Nitrite	40 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L	1/9	SYR4
TTHM	31 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L	6/9	SYR4
Chloroform	25 µg/L No EPA limit set	7/9	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	7 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L	2/9	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	6 µg/L No EPA limit set	5/9	SYR4
Arsenic	5.89 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L	2/9	SYR4
Monochloroacetic Acid	3 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/9	SYR4
Bromodichloromethane	2.9 µg/L No EPA limit set	7/9	SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)	2.3 pCi/L 46% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L	3/9	SYR4
Toluene	2 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L	3/9	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	2 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/9	SYR4
Dibromochloromethane	1.8 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/9	SYR4
Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate	0.9000 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L	1/9	SYR4
Atrazine	0.7000 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L	1/9	SYR4
Bromoform	0.7000 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/9	SYR4
Lead	0.0070 mg/L 47% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L	8/9	LCR

Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Cedar Rapids

Supplier	Population served
CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT	142,364
YES FIVE SEASONS CEDAR LLC	994
CEDAR TERRACE MHC	600
OAK VALLEY	100
BRITTANY ESTATES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION	72
MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING	72
CRESTWOOD ACRES	50
FOUR OAKS FAMILY AND CHILDRENS SERVICES	50
CHESTNUT RIDGE	33

Frequently asked questions about Cedar Rapids tap water

Is Cedar Rapids tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Cedar Rapids. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.

How many water suppliers serve Cedar Rapids?

9 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Cedar Rapids, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Cedar Rapids's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Cedar Rapids include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Lead. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.