What was found in Fort Dodge'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 | 1100 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 2228 µg/L — WOODLAND ACRES · 110 people · 2019 | 8/11 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 800 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1910 µg/L — DEER CREEK SUBDIVISION (FORT DODGE) · 55 people · 2019 | 8/11 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 180 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1180 µg/L — DEERWOOD ESTATES UTILITIES · 175 people · 2017 | 9/11 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 118 µg/L — LAKEWOOD UTILITIES · 135 people · 2018 | 8/11 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 96 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2024 | 1/11 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 76 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 5/11 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 32.775 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 60 µg/L — DEER CREEK SUBDIVISION (FORT DODGE) · 55 people · 2016 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 52.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 20.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 19.57 pCi/L 130% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 16.1 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 11.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.745 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.45 µg/L — WOODLAND ACRES · 110 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 11.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 8.52 pCi/L 170% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 5/11 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 7.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 6.02 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.2 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2013 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.3 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2013 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.1 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2018 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY · 25,874 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0040 mg/L — LAKEWOOD UTILITIES · 135 people · 2023 | 11/11 | 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 Fort Dodge
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| FORT DODGE WATER SUPPLY | 25,874 |
| PALACE PARK MHC | 426 |
| DEERWOOD ESTATES UTILITIES | 175 |
| LAKEWOOD UTILITIES | 135 |
| LIZARD CREEK RANCH | 125 |
| WOODLAND ACRES | 110 |
| FRONTIER VILLAGE | 108 |
| DEER CREEK SUBDIVISION (FORT DODGE) | 55 |
| BECKER DRIVE ROAD & WELL, LLC | 50 |
| TIMBERLANE WATER ASSOCIATION | 48 |
| CENTRAL WATER WORKS | 27 |
Frequently asked questions about Fort Dodge tap water
Is Fort Dodge tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Fort Dodge. 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 Fort Dodge?
11 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Fort Dodge, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Fort Dodge's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Fort Dodge include Fluoride, Nitrate, Copper, Lead, Lithium. 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.