What was found in Marion'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 | 1345 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2780 µg/L — MEADOW KNOLLS ADDITION · 53 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1380 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 346 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 143.8 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 272 µg/L — MEADOW KNOLLS ADDITION · 53 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 182 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Barium | 76.14 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 140 µg/L — MEADOW KNOLLS ADDITION · 53 people · 2015 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 12 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2015 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6.182 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.93 µg/L — GLENBROOK COVE AREA · 233 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 6.775 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 7.85 µg/L — MEADOW KNOLLS ADDITION · 53 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 5.45 pCi/L 109% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 5.27 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4.2565 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GLENBROOK COVE AREA · 233 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.053 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.769 µg/L — GLENBROOK COVE AREA · 233 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 2.86 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.5900 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.288 µg/L — GLENBROOK COVE AREA · 233 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.7 µg/L 3.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.028 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 0.9900 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0083 mg/L 55% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT · 41,623 people · 2024 | 5/5 | 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 Marion
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| MARION MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT | 41,623 |
| EAGLE RIDGE | 1,005 |
| MARION VILLAGE | 850 |
| GLENBROOK COVE AREA | 233 |
| MEADOW KNOLLS ADDITION | 53 |
Frequently asked questions about Marion tap water
Is Marion tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Marion. 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 Marion?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Marion, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Marion's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Marion include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrite, Copper, 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.