COUNTY REPORT IA

Pocahontas County, Iowa

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04

Across Pocahontas County's 8 ZIP codes, water safety results are uneven — a portion of systems carry active or recent violations, while others meet standards without issues.

How Pocahontas County Compares

Pocahontas County63/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Pocahontas County Compares

C
County Grade
63/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
10
Water Systems

Pocahontas 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: 2026-06-04

C
County Grade
63
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 50546 (66/100)
Lowest ZIP: 50571 (55/100)
$82K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Avg Remediation (147% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Pocahontas 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: 14.5 (asthma 10%, diabetes 13.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $906, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.546% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk

93% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.2% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1942
Median Build Year
93%
Pre-1978 Housing
55%
Pipe Failure Probability
100%
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: $906

Energy Code Gap $506/yr
Water / Lead $400/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

3,373 housing units in Pocahontas County

Pre-1940 38%
1940–1959 23%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 11%
2000+ 4%

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 Pocahontas County

$82K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation Cost
1.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.2% (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 Pocahontas County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Varina Water Supply 68 3
2 Rockwell City Water Supply 2,250 2
3 Fonda Water Supply 636 2
4 Rolfe Water Supply 509 2
5 Laurens Water Supply 1,301 1

10 total water systems serve Pocahontas County.

All ZIP Codes in Pocahontas County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Pocahontas County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 50546 Havelock 66 C 0
2 50554 Laurens 66 C 1 $86K
3 50573 Plover 66 C 0
4 50574 Pocahontas 66 C 0 $105K
5 50540 Fonda 65 C 2 $99K
6 50581 Rolfe 65 C 2 $78K
7 50593 Varina 56 C 3 $46K
8 50571 Palmer 55 C 1 $52K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Pocahontas County

Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.

Overview

Pocahontas County in Iowa covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100).

5 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Iowa water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Pocahontas County?
Pocahontas 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 Pocahontas County?
Pocahontas County is served by 10 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Pocahontas County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Pocahontas County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $906 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Pocahontas County?
The median home build year in Pocahontas County is 1942. 93% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Pocahontas County compare to Iowa?
Pocahontas County has an average water safety score of 63/100, which is above the Iowa state average of 59/100.

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