CITY REPORT IA

Scarville, IA Water - Home Safety Score unavailable

1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
1
Water Systems
0
ZIPs with Violations
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$141K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation (0.9% of home value)

Scarville Water: The Quick Version

  • Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 90% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 13.56 - above typical levels.

Water Systems Serving Scarville

Federal records track 1 water system in Scarville, IA, and a single provider handles the dominant share of residential connections while carrying primary responsibility for EPA compliance.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Scarville, Iowa (population ~222), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 2,158 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.

Water Sources

Scarville water systems draw from: Groundwater.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 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

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
50473 Lake Mills Municipal Water Department-south 2,158

All ZIP Codes in Scarville

Data Sources

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

CDC Health Data for Scarville

9.9%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
11.6%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
15.8%
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 9.9% ↑
Diabetes 11.6% ↑
Mental Health 15.8% ↑

Vertical line = national average. Above national · Below national

How Old Is Scarville's Housing Stock?

1901
Median Build Year
90%
Built Before 1986
70%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Lead
Likely Pipe Material

With 90% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Housing age is one of the most reliable proxies for plumbing-era lead risk, because two federal milestones - the widespread use of lead pipes before 1970 and the continued use of lead solder until 1986 - define the highest-risk tiers of the residential housing stock. With a median build year of 1901, Scarville falls squarely within the older range - meaning a large fraction of the housing was built under the plumbing standards of those earlier eras. The distribution above captures where that risk concentrates, and why older neighborhoods warrant particular attention from residents concerned about tap water quality.

1901
Median Year Built
90%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
70%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (70%) 1970–1986 (20%) Post-1986 (10%)

Over half of homes in Scarville were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Scarville: Remediation Cost in Perspective

For most homeowners in Scarville, the estimated cost of water and safety remediation represents a proportionally modest share of what properties are worth - placing this area in the lower tier of the remediation share scale.

Median Home Value
$141,000
Est. Remediation
$1,200
Remediation as % of home value 0.9%

Remediation costs in Scarville are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 14% below the Iowa average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Scarville

90%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.003
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.

Despite citywide averages serving as the standard public reference point, those aggregates cannot resolve what is happening at one specific faucet - and where 90% of Scarville homes come from before the solder rule or where utility samples sit at or above the action mark, the gap between system data and faucet reality matters more than it does in lower-exposure communities. An in-home draw closes that gap, with certified filtration through retailer networks available where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Scarville water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Scarville is 0.003 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 many water systems serve Scarville?
Scarville is served by 1 public water system across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 222 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Scarville?
Estimated remediation costs in Scarville average $1,200 per household, ranging from $800 to $1,500. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
HomeCitiesIowa → Scarville, IA

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Scarville, IA Water - Home Safety Score unavailable. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/scarville/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ia-scarville,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Scarville, IA Water - Home Safety Score unavailable}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/scarville/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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