What was found in Waterloo'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 | 10700 µg/L 107% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 2230 µg/L 172% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1100 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 688 µg/L 4587% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 227 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 20 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 16.6 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 10.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6.85 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 4.64 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4.1 µg/L 8.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 3.39 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.9 pCi/L 58% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.82 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 2.77 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 2.68 µg/L 54% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.71 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.65 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.57 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 1.11 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1.03 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.01 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.5000 µg/L 8.3% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| PFHXS | 0.0130 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0032 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0031 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0018 mg/L 12% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 1/1 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Waterloo
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WATERLOO WATER WORKS | 69,504 |
Frequently asked questions about Waterloo tap water
Is Waterloo tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Waterloo. 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 Waterloo?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Waterloo, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Waterloo's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Waterloo include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Lead, Barium. 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.