What was found in Cherokee'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 | 200 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2800 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 710 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 1140 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2013 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 247.8 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 833.625 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS - CHEROKEE SUBSYSTEM · 3,315 people · 2017 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 68 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Barium | 60 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: HILLTOP VILLAGE MHC, INC. · 78 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 17.75 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36.8 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 14.634 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.91 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.325 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.4 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 4.927 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.17 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 11.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 9.234 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 2.08 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.94 µg/L — HILLTOP VILLAGE MHC, INC. · 78 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 3.498 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.7 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 0.8650 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.7 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 2.13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.119 µg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2013 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.717 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.155 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.795 pCi/L 36% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: HILLTOP VILLAGE MHC, INC. · 78 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0015 mg/L 10% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 · 5,199 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0116 mg/L — CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM · 1,451 people · 2024 | 4/4 | 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 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 Cherokee
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CHEROKEE WATER SUPPLY - PLANT 1 | 5,199 |
| CHEROKEE RWS - CHEROKEE SUBSYSTEM | 3,315 |
| CHEROKEE RWS- MILL CREEK SUBSYSTEM | 1,451 |
| HILLTOP VILLAGE MHC, INC. | 78 |
Frequently asked questions about Cherokee tap water
Is Cherokee tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Cherokee. 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 Cherokee?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Cherokee, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Cherokee's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Cherokee include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Lithium, Barium. 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.