Mills County, Iowa
7 ZIP codes · Avg score 58/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Water safety in Mills County is uneven — some of its 7 ZIP codes meet standards cleanly while others carry documented violations.
How Mills County Compares
How Mills County Compares
Mills 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
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Mills 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 9.8%, diabetes 11.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,107, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.534% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk
79.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Mills County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 7 total (7 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
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: $1,107
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
2,322 housing units in Mills 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 Mills County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Mills 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 Mills 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 Mills County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hastings Water Supply | 152 | 9 |
| 2 | Malvern Water Supply | 1,046 | 6 |
| 3 | Pony Creek #1 Hoa | 125 | 3 |
| 4 | SILVER CITY WATER SUPPLY | 245 | 2 |
| 5 | Emerson Water Department | 412 | 1 |
6 total water systems serve Mills County.
All ZIP Codes in Mills County
7 ZIP codes tracked in Mills County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51571 | Silver City | 69 | C | 2 | $225K |
| 2 | 51541 | Henderson | 66 | C | 0 | $156K |
| 3 | 51533 | Emerson | 65 | C | 1 | $134K |
| 4 | 51551 | Malvern | 63 | C | 6 | $184K |
| 5 | 51561 | Pacific Junction | 56 | C | 3 (1 health) | $382K |
| 6 | 51540 | Hastings | 47 | D | 9 (6 health) | $156K |
| 7 | 51554 | Mineola | 40 | D | 0 | $257K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Mills 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 — 79.6% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Mills County, Iowa
Overview
Mills County in Iowa covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (58/100).
5 of 7 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 7 health-based violations have been documented.
← 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.