COUNTY REPORT IA

Black Hawk County, Iowa

15 ZIP codes · Avg score 60/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Within Black Hawk County, safety data across 15 ZIP codes suggests a fair but uneven system — violations are present and worth checking at the ZIP level.

How Black Hawk County Compares

Black Hawk County60/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Black Hawk County Compares

C
County Grade
60/100
Avg Safety Score
15
ZIP Codes
15
Water Systems

Black Hawk County scores 1 points above the Iowa state average (59/100) and 8 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
60
Avg Safety Score
15
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 50643 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 50667 (40/100)
$188K
Median Home Value
$2,600
Avg Remediation (139% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Black Hawk County, Iowa

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.3 (asthma 10.4%, diabetes 11.6%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,519, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.428% avg pipe failure probability, 71% of ZIPs at high risk

71.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.4% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.6% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.4% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1974
Median Build Year
71.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
43%
Pipe Failure Probability
71%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,519

Flood $1,120/yr
Energy Code Gap $252/yr
Water / Lead $147/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

60,950 housing units in Black Hawk County

Pre-1940 19%
1940–1959 23%
1960–1979 28%
1980–1999 15%
2000+ 15%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Black Hawk County

$188K
Median Home Value
$2,600
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Black Hawk County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Black Hawk County residents

Asthma 10.4% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.6% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.4% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Black Hawk County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Lenwood Utilities 238 9
2 Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities 40,713 6
3 Cedar Falls Mobile Home Village 388 6
4 Waterloo Water Works 69,504 4
5 Shell Rock Muni Water Supp 1,269 3

15 total water systems serve Black Hawk County.

All ZIP Codes in Black Hawk County

15 ZIP codes tracked in Black Hawk County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 50643 Hudson 70 B 0 $241K
2 50704 Waterloo 70 B 0
3 50614 Cedar Falls 65 C 3
4 50707 Evansdale 65 C 1 $143K
5 50647 Janesville 64 C 0 $278K
6 50648 Jesup 63 C 1 $211K
7 50634 Gilbertville 62 C 0 $188K
8 50651 La Porte City 60 C 1 $173K
9 50702 Waterloo 60 C 0 $146K
10 50703 Waterloo 60 C 0 $93K
11 50626 Dunkerton 59 C 3 $197K
12 50701 Waterloo 55 C 0 $183K
13 50613 Cedar Falls 54 D 3 $258K
14 50623 Dewar 53 D 0 $171K
15 50667 Raymond 40 D 0 $210K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Black Hawk County

Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.

Overview

Black Hawk County in Iowa covers 15 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (60/100).

6 of 15 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Iowa water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Black Hawk County?
Black Hawk County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Black Hawk County?
Black Hawk County is served by 15 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 15 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Black Hawk County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Black Hawk County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,519 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Black Hawk County?
The median home build year in Black Hawk County is 1974. 71.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Black Hawk County compare to Iowa?
Black Hawk County has an average water safety score of 60/100, which is above the Iowa state average of 59/100.

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