CITY REPORT IA

Story City, IA: 2 Violations - Home Safety Score unavailable

1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems
1
ZIPs with Violations
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$219K
Median Home Value
$2,400
Est. Remediation (1.1% of home value)

Key Facts for Story City Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.0014 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 67% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 10.24.

Story City's Water Providers

4 water systems are tracked federally in Story City, IA. The top 3 providers collectively serve most residential addresses, but because they operate independently, infrastructure maintenance standards and compliance histories differ from one service zone to another.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Story City, Iowa (population ~4,300), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 22,586 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.

Water Sources

Story City water systems draw from: Groundwater, 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.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Lead Inorganic 2 1
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
50248 2 0 Story City Water Department

All ZIP Codes in Story City

Data Sources

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

Story City Community Health Snapshot

9.7%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
8.1%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
17.1%
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 9.7% ↓
Diabetes 8.1% ↓
Mental Health 17.1% ↑

Vertical line = national average. Above national · Below national

What's in Story City's Water?

Lead 2 violations
Inorganic · EPA limit: 0.015 mg/L
Consumer Confidence Report Rule 2 violations
Reporting

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

Story City Infrastructure Age

1978
Median Build Year
67%
Built Before 1986
34%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 67% 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

For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Story City, the median build year of 1978 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 - the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing - and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.

1978
Median Year Built
67%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
34%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (34%) 1970–1986 (33%) Post-1986 (33%)

Over half of homes in Story City 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.

How Remediation Costs Compare in Story City

Across the Story City housing market, the estimated remediation share lands in a middle tier - not a minor footnote, but not a prohibitive burden either; the cost-to-value ratio reflects a moderate equity commitment, one that sits above routine maintenance territory and warrants a dedicated line in the household budget.

Median Home Value
$218,500
Est. Remediation
$2,400
Remediation as % of home value 1.1%

Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Story City. The estimated $1,600–$3,300 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 33% above the Iowa average.

Story City: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

67%
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.

If 67% of the Story City inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder - and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L - the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.

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

Story City: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

9
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$14,274
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Story City contains 9 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,274. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$2,400</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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many water violations does Story City have?
Story City water systems have a total of 2 EPA violations. Violations are tracked across 1 ZIP code.
Does Story City water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Story City is 0.0014 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 Story City?
Story City is served by 4 public water systems across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 4,300 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Story City?
Estimated remediation costs in Story City average $2,400 per household, ranging from $1,600 to $3,300. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
HomeCitiesIowa → Story City, IA

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Story City, IA: 2 Violations - Home Safety Score unavailable. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/story-city/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ia-story-city,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Story City, IA: 2 Violations - Home Safety Score unavailable}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/story-city/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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