COUNTY REPORT IA

Butler County, Iowa

12 ZIP codes · Avg score 56/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Water systems across Butler County's 12 ZIP codes produce average compliance results overall — pockets with documented violations exist, and the variation between areas makes ZIP-level lookup the most useful tool for residents here.

How Butler County Compares

Butler County56/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Butler County Compares

C
County Grade
56/100
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems

Butler County scores 3 points below the Iowa state average (59/100) and 12 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
56
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 50625 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 50649 (40/100)
$150K
Median Home Value
$2,250
Avg Remediation (150% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Butler 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: 14.4 (asthma 9.9%, diabetes 12.6%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,413, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.501% avg pipe failure probability, 83% of ZIPs at high risk

81% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2024–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Butler County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2024
1 (1 health)
2025
2 (2 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 3 total (3 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.9% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.6% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1952
Median Build Year
81%
Pre-1978 Housing
50%
Pipe Failure Probability
83%
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: $1,413

Flood $717/yr
Water / Lead $358/yr
Energy Code Gap $338/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

6,864 housing units in Butler County

Pre-1940 40%
1940–1959 17%
1960–1979 20%
1980–1999 11%
2000+ 13%

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 Butler County

$150K
Median Home Value
$2,250
Est. Remediation Cost
1.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Butler 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 Butler County residents

Asthma 9.9% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.6% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.3% (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 Butler County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Allison Water Supply 966 3
2 Greene Muni Water Supply 994 3
3 Bristow Muni Water Supply 145 3
4 Shell Rock Muni Water Supp 1,269 2
5 New Hartford Water Supply 570 2

9 total water systems serve Butler County.

All ZIP Codes in Butler County

12 ZIP codes tracked in Butler County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 50625 Dumont 70 B 1 $77K
2 50604 Aplington 66 C 0 $151K
3 50619 Clarksville 65 C 1 $147K
4 50670 Shell Rock 65 C 0 $172K
5 50602 Allison 64 C 0 $104K
6 50636 Greene 59 C 0 $150K
7 50660 New Hartford 58 C 2 $177K
8 50611 Bristow 55 C 3 (3 health) $78K
9 50605 Aredale 53 D 0 $55K
10 50665 Parkersburg 41 D 0 $215K
11 50608 Austinville 40 D 0 $205K
12 50649 Kesley 40 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Butler County

If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.

Overview

Butler County in Iowa covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (56/100).

4 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Iowa water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Butler County?
Butler 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 Butler County?
Butler County is served by 9 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 12 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Butler County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Butler County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,413 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Butler County?
The median home build year in Butler County is 1952. 81% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Butler County compare to Iowa?
Butler County has an average water safety score of 56/100, which is below the Iowa state average of 59/100.

Get safety alerts for Butler, Iowa

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.