Tap WaterIndex

← Iowa

Tap water quality report

Spencer, IA

EPA monitoring detected 17 contaminants across the 3 water suppliers serving Spencer. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — see the level at the main supplier for each below, with its EPA source and period.

3
water suppliers
18,231
people served
17
contaminants found
Iowa rankings Lead in Iowa PFAS in Iowa

What was found in Spencer'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.

ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitSuppliersSource
Nitrate
110 µg/L 1.1%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1250 µg/L — IOWA LAKES REGIONAL WATER · 6,755 people · 2019
2/3 SYR4
Fluoride
640 µg/L 16%
of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2012
2/3 SYR4
Copper
235 µg/L 18%
of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2017
3/3 SYR4
TTHM
53 µg/L 66%
of the EPA limit 80 µg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
3/3 SYR4
Chloroform
27 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 29.7 µg/L — IOWA LAKES REGIONAL WATER · 6,755 people · 2019
3/3 SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
11.2 µg/L 19%
of the EPA limit 60 µg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.8325 µg/L — IOWA LAKES REGIONAL WATER · 6,755 people · 2019
2/3 SYR4
Bromodichloromethane
14 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
3/3 SYR4
Lithium
11 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2023
1/3 UCMR-5
Dibromochloromethane
9.62 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
3/3 SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid
6 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.2 µg/L — IOWA LAKES REGIONAL WATER · 6,755 people · 2019
3/3 SYR4
Lead
7.8 µg/L 52%
of the EPA limit 15 µg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2017
3/3 SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid
3.3 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.395 µg/L — IOWA LAKES REGIONAL WATER · 6,755 people · 2019
3/3 SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid
3 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
3/3 SYR4
Bromoform
2.66 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2019
3/3 SYR4
Xylenes, Total
2.28 µg/L 0%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2018
1/3 SYR4
Toluene
0.7800 µg/L 0.1%
of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2018
1/3 SYR4
Lead
0.0 mg/L 0%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
Main supplier: SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY · 11,325 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.00030 mg/L — IOWA LAKES REGIONAL WATER · 6,755 people · 2023
3/3 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 Spencer

SupplierPopulation served
SPENCER MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY 11,325
IOWA LAKES REGIONAL WATER 6,755
DICKENS WATER WORKS 151

Frequently asked questions about Spencer tap water

Is Spencer tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 17 contaminants in the water serving Spencer. 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 Spencer?

3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Spencer, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Spencer's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Spencer include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM, 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.