What was found in Des Moines'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 | 8500 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 849.5 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 82.3 µg/L 103% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 55.5 µg/L 4.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 66.275 µg/L — SOUTHRIDGE ESTATE · 648 people · 2017 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 52.575 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2023 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 21.9 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.11 µg/L — EWING TRACE MHC · 455 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 20.275 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.14 µg/L — EWING TRACE MHC · 455 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 11.725 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 10 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 9.8 pCi/L 65% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.355 µg/L — SOUTHRIDGE ESTATE · 648 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 5 µg/L 83% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.955 µg/L — EWING TRACE MHC · 455 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.85 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.2 pCi/L 44% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.9 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.9 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.761 µg/L — SOUTHRIDGE ESTATE · 648 people · 2019 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1.19 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.9800 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.5000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.2750 µg/L 9.2% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 246,055 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0050 mg/L — STOVER HEIGHTS MHC · 393 people · 2025 | 8/10 | 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 Des Moines
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| DES MOINES WATER WORKS | 246,055 |
| YES REGENCY MANOR LLC | 710 |
| THE MEADOWS | 702 |
| SOUTHRIDGE ESTATE | 648 |
| VAL VISTA ESTATES | 553 |
| EWING TRACE MHC | 455 |
| STOVER HEIGHTS MHC | 393 |
| HILLOCK ESTATES | 228 |
| SOUTHLAND MHP COMMUNITY | 135 |
| CIWW (DMWW) | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Des Moines tap water
Is Des Moines tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving 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 Des Moines?
10 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Des Moines, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Des Moines's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Des Moines include Nitrate, Fluoride, TTHM, Copper, Chloroform. 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.