Is Dubuque, IA Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in Dubuque'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	8700 µg/L 87% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	8/16	SYR4
Copper	7400 µg/L 569% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L	15/16	SYR4
Fluoride	600 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L	12/16	SYR4
Barium	431 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L	10/16	SYR4
TTHM	68 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L	8/16	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	57.6 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L	6/16	SYR4
Monochloroacetic Acid	55.4 µg/L No EPA limit set	7/16	SYR4
Lead	53.6 µg/L 357% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L	14/16	SYR4
Chloroform	46 µg/L No EPA limit set	8/16	SYR4
Bromodichloromethane	15 µg/L No EPA limit set	8/16	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	12.9 µg/L No EPA limit set	6/16	SYR4
Dibromochloromethane	9.5 µg/L No EPA limit set	7/16	SYR4
Bromoform	7.07 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/16	SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid	5.38 µg/L No EPA limit set	6/16	SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)	3.6 pCi/L 72% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L	12/16	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	3.56 µg/L No EPA limit set	8/16	SYR4
Chromium	2.1 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L	2/16	SYR4
Monobromoacetic Acid	1.27 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/16	SYR4
Thallium, Total	0.5000 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L	1/16	SYR4
Atrazine	0.3000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L	1/16	SYR4
Simazine	0.1500 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L	1/16	SYR4
Pfba	0.0130 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/16	UCMR-5
PFOA	0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/16	UCMR-5
Lead	0.0050 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L	16/16	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 Dubuque

Supplier	Population served
DUBUQUE WATER WORKS	59,667
ALPINE PARK	932
TERRACE HEIGHTS	548
TABLE MOUND PARK	455
SUPER 20 MOBILE HOME COURT	236
HICKORY ACRES	115
STAR WATER	110
QUALITY WATER, INC. #2 (K-L)	70
LORE MOUND MOBILE HOME PARK	68
LORE OAKS HOMEOWNERS ASSN.	64
GAVIN ESTATES	52
NORTH END MOBILE HOME PARK	40
SHAGBARK ESTATES	38
GREEN BRIER SUBDIVISION	35
REGENCY WEST SUBDIVISION	34
ACE MOBILE HOME PARK	32

Frequently asked questions about Dubuque tap water

Is Dubuque tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Dubuque. 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 Dubuque?

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

What contaminants are in Dubuque's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Dubuque include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, TTHM. 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.