Kossuth County, Iowa
12 ZIP codes · Avg score 60/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Current EPA records place Kossuth County in the middle tier for drinking water safety, with 12 ZIP codes showing a range of outcomes.
How Kossuth County Compares
How Kossuth County Compares
Kossuth 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
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Kossuth County, Iowa
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.4 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 13.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $943, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.543% avg pipe failure probability, 83% of ZIPs at high risk
90.6% 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: $943
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
6,995 housing units in Kossuth 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 Kossuth County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Kossuth 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 Kossuth 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 Kossuth County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone Rock Water Supply | 146 | 6 |
| 2 | Buffalo Center Muni Water Department | 857 | 5 |
| 3 | Whittemore Muni Water Supply | 522 | 5 |
| 4 | Rake Water Supply | 186 | 5 |
| 5 | Havelock Water Supply | 130 | 5 |
18 total water systems serve Kossuth County.
All ZIP Codes in Kossuth County
12 ZIP codes tracked in Kossuth County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50511 | Algona | 69 | C | 2 | $181K |
| 2 | 50480 | Titonka | 66 | C | 1 | $79K |
| 3 | 50483 | Wesley | 66 | C | 0 | $150K |
| 4 | 50556 | Ledyard | 66 | C | 1 | — |
| 5 | 50559 | Lone Rock | 66 | C | 1 | — |
| 6 | 50560 | Lu Verne | 66 | C | 1 | $77K |
| 7 | 50590 | Swea City | 66 | C | 0 | $58K |
| 8 | 50451 | Lakota | 64 | C | 1 | $53K |
| 9 | 50598 | Whittemore | 64 | C | 5 | $104K |
| 10 | 50517 | Bancroft | 55 | C | 0 | $111K |
| 11 | 50522 | Burt | 36 | F | 0 | $81K |
| 12 | 50539 | Fenton | 36 | F | 0 | $71K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Kossuth County
Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 90.6% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Kossuth County, Iowa
Overview
Kossuth County in Iowa covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (60/100).
7 of 12 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.