Iowa City, IA: 20 Violations - Home Safety 62/100
6 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Iowa City: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
The C shown for Iowa City, IA is an average of Home Safety Scores across the city's ZIP codes; that composite blends several data sources, so it can move for reasons unrelated to water, and it is not a measurement of what comes out of any tap in the city.
How Iowa City Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Iowa City Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 20 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.004 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 57% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.47.
Who Supplies Your Water in Iowa City
The 3 largest of 7 systems connected with Iowa City, IA are listed below.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Iowa City, Iowa, covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 85,167 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.
3 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (75%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Iowa City: C (62/100)
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
Iowa City water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0040 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
6 of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 24 | 3 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 10 | 3 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 9 | 3 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 3 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52240 | C | 20 | 0 | Iowa City Water Department |
| 52245 | C | 10 | 0 | Iowa City Water Department |
| 52246 | C | 8 | 0 | Iowa City Water Department |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52242 | C | Iowa City Water Department | 68,753 |
All ZIP Codes in Iowa City
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Iowa City
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
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Iowa City Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Iowa City
With 57% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Plumbing risk in older housing is tied to the period before 1986, when lead pipes and lead solder were still permitted in new plumbing. Iowa City's median build year is 1980, and properties from before that year might still contain lead-bearing joints or pipes. Much of that risk sits inside individual properties, which city-level water quality averages don't capture.
Over half of homes in Iowa City were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Iowa City
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.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Iowa City
Historical NFIP data for Iowa City contains 312 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $74,262. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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.
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 Iowa City
- 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.
- Install a certified water filter. For Revised Total Coliform Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Iowa City: 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.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 57% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Iowa City, IA