C50/100
DES MOINES WATER WORKS — Water Quality Report 2026
Serving 246,055 people · Iowa
Water Source
Purchased Surface Water
County
—
System ID
IA7727031
Violations
22
Contaminant Test Results
EPA Violation History
No violations in the past 5 years
Full EPA compliance since 2018.
Understanding violation severity
Tier 1Urgent health risk. Utility must notify all customers within 24 hours.Tier 2Important health or treatment issue. Customers notified within 30 days.Tier 3Administrative or monitoring issue. Reported in the annual water quality report.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · Updated quarterly
Frequently Asked Questions About DES MOINES WATER WORKS
Is DES MOINES WATER WORKS water safe to drink?
DES MOINES WATER WORKS water receives a grade of C (50/100), which is considered fair. 0 contaminant(s) exceed EPA legal limits and 22 violation(s) are on record. Customers may want to consider using a water filter.
What contaminants has DES MOINES WATER WORKS detected?
76 contaminants were tested in DES MOINES WATER WORKS's water. No contaminants exceed EPA legal limits or health goals, indicating good water quality management.
Does DES MOINES WATER WORKS have any EPA violations?
Yes, DES MOINES WATER WORKS has 22 EPA violation(s) on record, with the most recent in 2018. Violation types include MR, TT, MCL. 7 are health-based violations.
How many people does DES MOINES WATER WORKS serve?
DES MOINES WATER WORKS serves approximately 246,055 people, Iowa. The system provides water to 1 community: Des Moines.
What type of water does DES MOINES WATER WORKS provide?
DES MOINES WATER WORKS sources its water from purchased surface water. Surface water comes from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs and typically requires more extensive treatment. The utility's system ID is IA7727031.
How does DES MOINES WATER WORKS compare to other utilities in Iowa?
DES MOINES WATER WORKS scores 50/100 with a grade of C (fair). This score indicates room for improvement compared to other utilities. Visit our Iowa state page for a full comparison of water systems.