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Tap water quality report

West Des Moines, IA

EPA monitoring detected 22 contaminants across the 4 water suppliers serving West Des Moines. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — see the highest level found for each below, with its EPA source and period.

4
water suppliers
75,047
people served
22
contaminants found
Iowa rankings Lead in Iowa PFAS in Iowa

What was found in West Des Moines's water

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

ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitSuppliersSource
Fluoride
1200 µg/L 30%
of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L
 2/4 SYR4
Nitrate
1100 µg/L 11%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
 2/4 SYR4
Copper
930 µg/L 72%
of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L
 2/4 SYR4
Lithium
380 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/4 UCMR-5
Barium
342 µg/L 17%
of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L
 1/4 SYR4
Lead
160 µg/L 1067%
of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L
 2/4 SYR4
TTHM
100 µg/L 125%
of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L
 2/4 SYR4
Bromoform
79 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/4 SYR4
Chloroform
73 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/4 SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
25 µg/L 42%
of the EPA limit 60 µg/L
 2/4 SYR4
Bromodichloromethane
22 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/4 SYR4
Dibromochloromethane
19 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/4 SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid
17 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/4 SYR4
Monochloroacetic Acid
13 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/4 SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid
10 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/4 SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid
4 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 2/4 SYR4
Selenium
2.8 µg/L 5.6%
of the EPA limit 50 µg/L
 1/4 SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)
2.7 pCi/L 54%
of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L
 1/4 SYR4
Monobromoacetic Acid
1 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/4 SYR4
Xylenes, Total
0.8000 µg/L 0%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
 1/4 SYR4
Toluene
0.6000 µg/L 0.1%
of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L
 1/4 SYR4
Lead
0.0020 mg/L 13%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
 3/4 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 West Des Moines

SupplierPopulation served
WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS 73,959
YES WESTERN VILLAGE LLC 670
SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. 393
CIWW (WDMWW) 25

Frequently asked questions about West Des Moines tap water

Is West Des Moines tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving West Des Moines. 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 West Des Moines?

4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for West Des Moines, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in West Des Moines's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in West Des Moines include Fluoride, Nitrate, Copper, Lithium, 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.