CITY REPORT IA HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 1

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.

Documented records place Des Moines, IA in the middle grade tier.

How Des Moines Compares

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

Data: EPA SDWIS

58
ZIP Codes
8
Water Systems
1
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
C · 67
Avg Safety Score
Zone 1
County Radon Potential (High)
$208K
Median Home Value
$300
Est. Remediation (0.1% 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 since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0015 mg/L.
  • Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.97.

Des Moines's Water Providers

Counting every public water system linked to Des Moines, IA in federal data gives 8. The list below keeps the 3 largest by reported population served, a figure that covers each system's whole service area rather than the city alone. A household's own supplier is named on its water bill.

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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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

58 of 58 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Gross Alpha (excl. radon and uranium) 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). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.

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 (excl. radon and uranium) 4 violations
Radionuclides · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 15 pCi/L

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

How Remediation Costs Compare in Des Moines

Measured against the median home value, the estimated cost of fixing the issues flagged for Des Moines lands in the lowest of the three tiers this page uses.

Median Home Value
$207,700
Est. Remediation
$300
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Des Moines can be compared with local home values. The $150–$600 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 26% above the Iowa average.

Des Moines: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

0.0015
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

Available area-level lead records for Des Moines do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. 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 $300 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. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
  2. Install a certified water filter. For Gross Alpha (excl. radon and uranium), listed in the water-quality records for Des Moines: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
  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 ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 2 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Des Moines?
EPA records list 2 EPA violations, including 1 health-based violation for Des Moines water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 58 mapped ZIP codes.
Does Des Moines water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Des Moines is 0.0015 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. 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 at or above the Iowa state average of 63/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Des Moines?
Our records map 8 water systems to 58 ZIP codes in Des Moines. The related population figure in our data is approximately 220,294 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Des Moines?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Des Moines: $300; modeled range $150 to $600. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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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: October 2026.

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