Buena Vista County, Iowa
10 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04
Buena Vista County shows moderate water quality across its 10 ZIP codes — some areas carry violations worth monitoring.
How Buena Vista County Compares
How Buena Vista County Compares
Buena Vista County scores 4 points above the Iowa state average (59/100) and 5 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Buena Vista County, Iowa
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.3 (asthma 9.5%, diabetes 12.9%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $820, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.506% avg pipe failure probability, 80% of ZIPs at high risk
83.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $820
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
8,504 housing units in Buena Vista County
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 Buena Vista County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Buena Vista County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rembrandt Water Supply | 209 | 5 |
| 2 | Sioux Rapids Water Department | 920 | 4 |
| 3 | Newell Water Treatment Plant | 906 | 3 |
| 4 | Lohrville Water Supply | 381 | 3 |
| 5 | Arthur Municipal Water Supply | 222 | 3 |
15 total water systems serve Buena Vista County.
All ZIP Codes in Buena Vista County
10 ZIP codes tracked in Buena Vista County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50588 | Storm Lake | 70 | B | 0 | $179K |
| 2 | 50510 | Albert City | 66 | C | 0 | $104K |
| 3 | 50565 | Marathon | 66 | C | 0 | $72K |
| 4 | 50592 | Truesdale | 66 | C | 0 | $33K |
| 5 | 51002 | Alta | 66 | C | 0 | $145K |
| 6 | 50568 | Newell | 65 | C | 3 | $124K |
| 7 | 50576 | Rembrandt | 65 | C | 2 | $106K |
| 8 | 51033 | Linn Grove | 65 | C | 3 | $185K |
| 9 | 50585 | Sioux Rapids | 56 | C | 4 | $99K |
| 10 | 51366 | Webb | 40 | D | 0 | $119K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Buena Vista County
While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 83.2% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Buena Vista County, Iowa
Overview
Buena Vista County in Iowa covers 10 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100).
4 of 10 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← Back to Iowa water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.