Nitrate · Iowa

Nitrate in Iowa Drinking Water — 74 ZIPs Tested

EPA data analysis for nitrate in Iowa drinking water systems

ZipCheckup tracks Nitrate in Iowa drinking water: 74 ZIP codes with detected levels on record. 6 ZIP codes exceed the EPA limit (10 mg/L (as nitrogen)). Nitrate carries a high health-risk designation.

74
ZIPs with Detections
6
ZIPs with Violations
0.6%
Violation Rate
10 mg/L (as nitrogen)
EPA Limit
High
Health Risk
Reverse Osmosis or Ion Exchange
Best Filter Method

Nitrate Contamination in Iowa

ZipCheckup analyzed drinking water data across 1,058 ZIP codes in Iowa for nitrate contamination. 74 ZIP codes have reported nitrate detections, and 6 have EPA violations on record.

The violation rate for nitrate in Iowa is 0.6% of all ZIP codes — lower than the national average.

EPA Standard for Nitrate

The EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate is 10 mg/L (as nitrogen), governed by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Water systems that exceed this limit must take corrective action and notify consumers.

Worst ZIP Codes for Nitrate in Iowa

These ZIP codes reported the highest nitrate levels in Iowa based on CCR reports and EPA data:

Lowest Nitrate Levels in Iowa

These ZIP codes had the lowest reported nitrate detections in Iowa:

Health Effects of Nitrate

How to Remove Nitrate From Drinking Water

The most effective treatment for nitrate removal is Reverse Osmosis or Ion Exchange. Look for filters certified under NSF 53 / NSF 58 standards.

Check Your ZIP Code

Use the ZipCheckup water quality search to see nitrate data for your specific water system in Iowa.

Worst ZIP Codes for Nitrate in Iowa

Ranked by highest nitrate detection level.

Rank ZIP Code City Level Detected EPA Limit Status
1 50036 Boone 8000 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
2 50037 Boone 8000 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
3 50099 Boone 8000 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
4 50007 Alleman 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
5 50046 Cambridge 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
6 50061 Cumming 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
7 50073 Elkhart 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
8 50109 Granger 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
9 50131 Johnston 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
10 50161 Maxwell 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
11 50168 Mingo 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
12 50301 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
13 50302 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
14 50303 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
15 50304 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
16 50305 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
17 50306 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
18 50307 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
19 50308 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit
20 50309 Des Moines 7150 ppb 10000 ppb Within Limit

Lowest Nitrate Levels in Iowa

ZIP Code City Level Detected
50616 Charles City 600 ppb
50266 West Des Moines 5060 ppb
50265 West Des Moines 5060 ppb
50038 Booneville 5060 ppb
52632 Keokuk 5500 ppb
50983 Des Moines 7150 ppb
50982 Des Moines 7150 ppb
50981 Des Moines 7150 ppb
50980 Des Moines 7150 ppb
50950 Des Moines 7150 ppb

Cities with Nitrate Data in Iowa

9 cities in Iowa have nitrate testing data available.

Iowa Water Quality Overview: See statewide water quality rankings on the Iowa water quality page.
Learn more about Nitrate: Read the full guide on Nitrate in drinking water.
Home → Contaminants → Nitrate → Iowa

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Nitrate in Iowa Drinking Water — 74 ZIPs Tested. https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/nitrates/iowa/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-contaminants-nitrates-iowa,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Nitrate in Iowa Drinking Water — 74 ZIPs Tested}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/nitrates/iowa/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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