What was found in West Des Moines'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 | 1200 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 1100 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 29.5 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 624.1 µg/L — SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. · 393 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 380 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Barium | 342 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. · 393 people · 2012 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 131.5 µg/L 877% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 70.25 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 41 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 39 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 16.6 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.2525 µg/L — SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. · 393 people · 2017 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13 µg/L — SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. · 393 people · 2017 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.2665 µg/L — SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. · 393 people · 2017 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.8 µg/L 5.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. · 393 people · 2012 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.615 pCi/L 52% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.8000 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.6000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2016 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS · 73,959 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0020 mg/L — SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. · 393 people · 2025 | 3/4 | 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 West Des Moines
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS | 73,959 |
| YES WESTERN VILLAGE LLC | 670 |
| SOUTHWEST POLK WATER SERVICE, INC. | 393 |
| CIWW (WDMWW) | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about West Des Moines tap water
Is West Des Moines tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving West Des Moines. 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 West Des Moines?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for West Des Moines, Iowa to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in West Des Moines's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in West Des Moines include Fluoride, Nitrate, Copper, Lithium, Barium. 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.