What was found in Kalona'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 1300 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 694 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 170 µg/L 8.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 300 µg/L — SUNSET HILLS ESTATES PART 2 · 45 people · 2016 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 300 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 64.3 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 79.43 µg/L — CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN · 60 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.7 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 75.335 µg/L — CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN · 60 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 20.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 72.28 µg/L — CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN · 60 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 10 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 40.425 µg/L — CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN · 60 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 37.4 µg/L 249% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.995 µg/L — CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN · 60 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.87 µg/L — CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN · 60 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 11 µg/L 110% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: SUNSET HILLS ESTATES PART 2 · 45 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4.26 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN · 60 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 4.115 pCi/L 82% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY VIEW SUBDIVISION HOA · 55 people · 2016 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Asbestos | 0.1800 MFL 2.6% of the EPA limit 7 MFL Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: KALONA WATER DEPT · 2,630 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0060 mg/L — CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN · 60 people · 2023 | 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 Kalona
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| KALONA WATER DEPT | 2,630 |
| CITY OF KALONA - SOUTHTOWN | 60 |
| COUNTRY VIEW SUBDIVISION HOA | 55 |
| SUNSET HILLS ESTATES PART 2 | 45 |
Frequently asked questions about Kalona tap water
Is Kalona tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Kalona. 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 Kalona?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Kalona, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Kalona's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Kalona include Copper, Fluoride, Barium, Nitrate, 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.