O'Brien County, Iowa
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Spanning 8 ZIP codes, O'Brien County lands near the national median for water safety — compliance results are mixed, and the county's middle-grade standing reflects genuine variability rather than a single systemic problem.
How O'Brien County Compares
How O'Brien County Compares
O'Brien 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: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: O'Brien County, Iowa
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.2 (asthma 10.1%, diabetes 12.4%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $790, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.486% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk
81.6% 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: $790
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
6,624 housing units in O'Brien 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 O'Brien County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in O'Brien 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 O'Brien 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 O'Brien County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paullina Municipal Water Supply | 996 | 4 |
| 2 | Osceola Rural Water System-south | 2,112 | 1 |
| 3 | Sutherland Water Supply | 629 | 1 |
| 4 | PRIMGHAR MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY | 896 | 1 |
| 5 | Calumet Water Supply | 146 | 0 |
8 total water systems serve O'Brien County.
All ZIP Codes in O'Brien County
8 ZIP codes tracked in O'Brien County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51201 | Sheldon | 70 | B | 0 | $183K |
| 2 | 51346 | Hartley | 70 | B | 0 | $126K |
| 3 | 51009 | Calumet | 66 | C | 0 | $65K |
| 4 | 51245 | Primghar | 66 | C | 1 | $140K |
| 5 | 51248 | Sanborn | 66 | C | 0 | $154K |
| 6 | 51046 | Paullina | 64 | C | 4 | $161K |
| 7 | 51058 | Sutherland | 64 | C | 1 | $116K |
| 8 | 51231 | Archer | 40 | D | 0 | $180K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for O'Brien 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 — 81.6% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for O'Brien County, Iowa
Overview
O'Brien County in Iowa covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100).
3 of 8 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.