CITY REPORT IA 1 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Des Moines, IA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 67/100

58 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Des Moines: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Public water data for Des Moines, IA reveals a split picture - tap water quality varies meaningfully by service area and the city's grade reflects that variability.

How Des Moines Compares

Des Moines67/100
Iowa avg63/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

58
ZIP Codes
8
Water Systems
1
ZIPs with Violations
C · 67
Avg Safety Score
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$208K
Median Home Value
$1,503
Est. Remediation (0.7% of home value)

Water Quality Map: Des Moines, IA

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Score Distribution

Safety grade breakdown for Des Moines's 12 ZIP codes.

A
0
B
0
C
12
D
0
F
0

Key Facts for Des Moines Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.0015 mg/L.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,503 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 11.97.

Des Moines's Water Providers

3 independent water providers serve Des Moines, IA - 8 systems appear in federal records.

Overview

We track home safety data for 58 ZIP codes in Des Moines, Iowa (population ~220,294), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 417,939 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 12 of 58 ZIP codes.

1 of 12 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (8%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Des Moines: C (67/100)

Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:

Factor What It Measures
Water Quality EPA violations and compliance history
PFAS MCL Screen UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs
Radon Risk EPA radon zone classification
Annual AQI EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days

Water Sources

Des Moines water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0015 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 12 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

  • Zone 1 (High): 58 ZIP codes
  • Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Gross Alpha Radionuclides 4 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
50317 C 2 1 Des Moines Water Works

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
50309 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50310 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50311 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50312 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50313 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50314 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50315 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50316 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50319 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055
50320 C Des Moines Water Works 246,055

All ZIP Codes in Des Moines

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Des Moines Community Health Snapshot

9.8%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
10.1%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
17.2%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 9.8% ↓
Diabetes 10.1% ↓
Mental Health 17.2% ↑

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

What's in Des Moines's Water?

Gross Alpha 4 violations
Radionuclides · EPA limit: 15 pCi/L
Increased cancer risk

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

How Remediation Costs Compare in Des Moines

In Des Moines, property wealth outpaces what documented remediation typically demands - the equity burden lands well within the low tier.

Median Home Value
$207,700
Est. Remediation
$1,503
Remediation as % of home value 0.7%

Remediation costs in Des Moines are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,007–$1,953 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 26% above the Iowa average.

Des Moines: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

0.0015
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

Lead risk in Des Moines appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Des Moines: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

894
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$35,203
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
36%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Des Moines contains 894 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $35,203. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 36% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$1,503</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.

Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.

Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.

What You Can Do in Des Moines

  1. Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
  2. Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Gross Alpha can reduce the most common contaminant found in Des Moines's water.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Des Moines, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Des Moines, IA?
Des Moines has an average Home Safety Score of 67/100 (Grade C) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 2 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does Des Moines have?
Des Moines water systems have a total of 2 EPA violations, including 1 health-based violation. Violations are tracked across 58 ZIP codes.
Does Des Moines water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Des Moines is 0.0015 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Des Moines compare to Iowa average?
Des Moines has an average Home Safety Score of 67/100, which is above the Iowa state average of 63/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Des Moines?
Des Moines is served by 8 public water systems across 58 ZIP codes, serving approximately 220,294 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Des Moines?
Estimated remediation costs in Des Moines average $1,503 per household, ranging from $1,007 to $1,953. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Des Moines, IA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 67/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/des-moines/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ia-des-moines,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Des Moines, IA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 67/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/des-moines/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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