What was found in Cedar Rapids'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 6470 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019 | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 742 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 78.175 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 494 µg/L — FOUR OAKS FAMILY AND CHILDRENS SERVICES · 50 people · 2017 | 8/9 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 260 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2013 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 40 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 4.1 µg/L 5.1% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30.25 µg/L — MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2017 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 2.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.35 µg/L — MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2017 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 10.349 µg/L 69% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.75 µg/L — OAK VALLEY · 100 people · 2019 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6.9 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.85 µg/L — MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2017 | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3 µg/L — CEDAR TERRACE MHC · 600 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.885 µg/L — MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2017 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.1 pCi/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.3 pCi/L — OAK VALLEY · 100 people · 2017 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.81 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2013 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.5000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — CHESTNUT RIDGE · 33 people · 2018 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — OAK VALLEY · 100 people · 2019 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.785 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2017 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.9000 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2016 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.7000 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2017 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.5000 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0016 mg/L 11% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT · 142,364 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0070 mg/L — MIDWAY WATER AND LIGHTING · 72 people · 2025 | 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 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 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, Nitrite. 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.