What was found in Altoona's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 1600 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2016 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 800 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 604.05 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 250 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2025 | 2/2 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 34.54 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 92.435 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 27.76 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 57.805 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.657 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.68 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 18.2 pCi/L 121% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.48 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 14.165 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.2 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 13.3 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2016 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4.702 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.285 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.486 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.55 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 4.455 pCi/L 89% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.294 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.932 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.363 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 2.964 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3 µg/L — SOUTHEAST POLK RWD · 7,565 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0056 mg/L 37% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY · 19,565 people · 2025 | 2/2 | 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 95th percentile of the
system's samples — 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 Altoona
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY | 19,565 |
| SOUTHEAST POLK RWD | 7,565 |
Frequently asked questions about Altoona tap water
Is Altoona tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 19 contaminants in the water serving Altoona. 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 Altoona?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Altoona, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Altoona's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Altoona include Fluoride, Nitrate, Copper, Lithium, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.