Water systems across Polk City produce average compliance results for IA overall - pockets with documented violations exist, and the variation between areas makes checking the specific system serving a given address the most useful step for residents here.

Data: EPA SDWIS

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Polk City, Iowa (population ~7,290), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 343,290 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Polk City: 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

Polk City water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0014 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
• 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

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

Areas with No Violations

All ZIP Codes in Polk City

• 50226 [C]

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.

Housing Age Profile

A post-1986 majority in Polk City's housing inventory - median build year 2006 - generally signals lower aggregate plumbing-era lead risk.

2006

Median Year Built

28%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

10%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (10%) 1970–1986 (18%) Post-1986 (72%)

Most homes in Polk City were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Polk City Homeowners

While no remediation project is entirely without cost, the relationship between estimated remediation and property values in Polk City is notably favorable - the equity share is small enough that the household financial perspective is one of proportionality rather than pressure, and most homeowners can treat it as routine planning rather than a significant financial event.

Median Home Value

$390,600

Est. Remediation

$1,200

Remediation as % of home value 0.3%

Remediation costs in Polk City are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 137% above the Iowa average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Polk City

28%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.0014

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.

Although citywide aggregate readings pass cleanly and just 28% of Polk City housing comes from the pre-rule era, the difference between what utilities sample and what arrives at one specific faucet remains a structural feature of how monitoring works. Households with kids in the home can find a certified lead-removal filter and a draw-test kit through retailer-verified channels. That step is independent of system-level data.

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