Des Moines Water Works
Des Moines, Iowa · PWSID: IA7727031
Des Moines Water Quality Summary
Des Moines Water Works supplies drinking water to about 246,055 people in Des Moines, Iowa, and draws from surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs), which requires fuller treatment for runoff, sediment, and microbial risk. On the IsWaterSafe scale it earns a poor Water Safety Score of 60 out of 100 (Grade D), a composite of its EPA SDWIS violation and contaminant record.
EPA records show 2 health-based violations for this system. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its legal EPA limit, the most serious category in the Safe Drinking Water Act. The system has 10 enforcement actions on file in response.
No individual contaminant detections are reported for Des Moines Water Works in the current EPA SDWIS extract; the score reflects its violation and enforcement record alone.
The most pressing open issue is a treatment technique violation, beginning November 2018 and still open in EPA records.
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Detected Contaminants
No contaminant data available.
Violation History
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines Water Works has a Water Safety Score of D (60/100). The system serves 246,055 people and has 2 health violations on record. Check the contaminant table above for specific detected substances.
Des Moines Water Works has 0 contaminant exceedances above EPA health guidelines. See the full contaminant detection table above for all tested substances and their levels relative to legal limits and health guidelines.
The Water Safety Score (0-100, grades A through F) is based on contaminant levels relative to legal limits, health guideline exceedances, violation history, and enforcement actions. Higher scores indicate fewer concerns.
If your water system has violations, request the Consumer Confidence Report from your utility, consider getting an independent water test from a certified lab, and look into certified water filters for specific contaminants of concern. For lead, run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking.
Water quality data sourced from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Safety scores are calculated based on contaminant levels, violations, and enforcement history. This is not a substitute for your utility's official Consumer Confidence Report.
Source: EPA Ground Water and Drinking Water, 2026.