COUNTY REPORT IA

Cass County, Iowa

9 ZIP codes · Avg score 58/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Across Cass County, EPA compliance data for 9 ZIP codes sits at a moderate level — not alarming, but not uniformly clean either.

How Cass County Compares

Cass County58/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Cass County Compares

C
County Grade
58/100
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems

Cass County scores 1 points below the Iowa state average (59/100) and 10 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
58
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 50020 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 51552 (40/100)
$121K
Median Home Value
$1,667
Avg Remediation (137% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Cass 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: 15.2 (asthma 10.2%, diabetes 13.8%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,126, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.53% avg pipe failure probability, 78% of ZIPs at high risk

86% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2022–2025)

→ Stable trend

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

2022
2 (2 health)
2023
2 (2 health)
2025
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2022 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 5 total (5 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 10.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.8% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.6% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1942
Median Build Year
86%
Pre-1978 Housing
53%
Pipe Failure Probability
78%
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: $1,126

Energy Code Gap $420/yr
Water / Lead $372/yr
Flood $333/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

6,882 housing units in Cass County

Pre-1940 41%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 22%
1980–1999 12%
2000+ 8%

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 Cass County

$121K
Median Home Value
$1,667
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.8% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.6% (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 Cass County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 MASSENA WATER SUPPLY 364 11
2 Wiota Water Works 95 8
3 Griswold Water Supply 1,008 2
4 Lewis Water Supply 357 2
5 Anita Municipal Utilities 972 1

7 total water systems serve Cass County.

All ZIP Codes in Cass County

9 ZIP codes tracked in Cass County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 50020 Anita 70 B 1 $121K
2 50843 Cumberland 66 C 0 $82K
3 50022 Atlantic 65 C 0 $146K
4 51544 Lewis 65 C 2 (1 health) $85K
5 51535 Griswold 61 C 2 $136K
6 50853 Massena 60 C 11 (2 health) $211K
7 50274 Wiota 59 C 8 $127K
8 50837 Bridgewater 40 D 0 $108K
9 51552 Marne 40 D 0 $110K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cass County

Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.

Overview

Cass County in Iowa covers 9 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (58/100).

5 of 9 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 Cass County?
Cass 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 Cass County?
Cass County is served by 7 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 9 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cass County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cass County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,126 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cass County?
The median home build year in Cass County is 1942. 86% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cass County compare to Iowa?
Cass County has an average water safety score of 58/100, which is below the Iowa state average of 59/100.

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