What was found in Tama'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 | 510 µg/L 5.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4000 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 49 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 884.25 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 687 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2016
Highest in the city: 867.5 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 108 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2013 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 2 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 93.655 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 14.1 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 59.995 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 40 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 4.52 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.085 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.58 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 4.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.475 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 13.7975 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 10.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.987 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 6.4 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.542 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.9 µg/L 5.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2013 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.545 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.7895 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.277 µg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.96 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA · 4,765 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0048 mg/L — TAMA WATER SUPPLY · 3,130 people · 2025 | 2/2 | 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 Tama
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SAC & FOX (MESKWAKI) IN IOWA | 4,765 |
| TAMA WATER SUPPLY | 3,130 |
Frequently asked questions about Tama tap water
Is Tama tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Tama. 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 Tama?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Tama, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Tama's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Tama include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, Lead. 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.