COUNTY REPORT IA

Polk County, Iowa

79 ZIP codes · Avg score 61/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

In recent monitoring cycles, Polk County's 79 ZIP codes show a split record — several have documented water safety violations.

How Polk County Compares

Polk County61/100

Iowa avg59/100

National avg68/100

How Polk County Compares

County Grade

61/100

Avg Safety Score

ZIP Codes

Water Systems

Polk County scores 2 points above the Iowa state average (59/100) and 7 points below the national average (68/100).

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

County Grade

Avg Safety Score

ZIP Codes

Berwick

Best ZIP: 50032 (70/100)

Alleman

Lowest ZIP: 50007 (40/100)

$275K

Median Home Value

$1,714

Avg Remediation (62% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Polk 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: 12 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 10.1%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $521, driven primarily by flood

Violation History (2022–2024)

→ Stable trend

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

2022

2 (2 health)

2023

2 (2 health)

2024

4 (4 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 8 total (8 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 9.8% (national: 8.9%)

Diabetes 10.1% (national: 10.5%)

Obesity 37% (national: 32.4%)

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

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $521

Flood $375/yr

Energy Code Gap $93/yr

Water / Lead $53/yr

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

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Polk County

$275K

Median Home Value

$1,714

Est. Remediation Cost

0.6%

of Home Value

Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 9.8% (US avg: 8.9%)

Diabetes 10.1% (US avg: 11%)

Obesity 37% (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 Polk County ranked by EPA violation count.

#	Water System	Population	Violations
1	Des Moines Water Works	246,055	374
2	Southeast Polk Rwd	7,565	352
3	Yes Regency Manor Llc	710	348
4	The Meadows	702	348
5	Southridge Estate	648	348

36 total water systems serve Polk County.

All ZIP Codes in Polk County

79 ZIP codes tracked in Polk County.

#	ZIP Code	City	Safety Score	Grade	Violations	Home Value
1	50032	Berwick	70	B	0	—
2	50035	Bondurant	70	B	0	$297K
3	50111	Grimes	67	C	4	$286K
4	50109	Granger	66	C	3	$337K
5	50226	Polk City	66	C	0	$391K
6	50243	Sheldahl	66	C	1	$175K
7	50320	Des Moines	66	C	6	$208K
8	50009	Altoona	65	C	3 (1 health)	$262K
9	50023	Ankeny	65	C	4	$327K
10	50054	Colfax	65	C	0	$197K
11	50073	Elkhart	64	C	2	$276K
12	50301	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
13	50302	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
14	50303	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
15	50304	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
16	50305	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
17	50306	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
18	50307	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
19	50308	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
20	50318	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
21	50319	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
22	50328	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
23	50329	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
24	50330	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
25	50331	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
26	50332	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
27	50333	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
28	50334	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
29	50335	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
30	50336	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
31	50339	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
32	50340	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
33	50359	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
34	50360	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
35	50361	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
36	50362	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
37	50363	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
38	50364	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
39	50367	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
40	50368	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
41	50369	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
42	50380	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
43	50381	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
44	50391	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
45	50392	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
46	50393	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
47	50394	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
48	50395	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
49	50396	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
50	50397	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
51	50936	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
52	50940	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
53	50947	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
54	50950	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
55	50980	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
56	50981	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
57	50982	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
58	50983	Des Moines	62	C	6	—
59	50309	Des Moines	61	C	6	$287K
60	50310	Des Moines	61	C	6	$214K
61	50311	Des Moines	61	C	6	$228K
62	50314	Des Moines	61	C	6	$147K
63	50315	Des Moines	61	C	6	$164K
64	50316	Des Moines	61	C	6	$137K
65	50321	Des Moines	61	C	6	$294K
66	50021	Ankeny	60	C	4	$295K
67	50131	Johnston	59	C	3	$347K
68	50313	Des Moines	56	C	6	$162K
69	50317	Des Moines	56	C	6	$165K
70	50265	West Des Moines	55	C	0	$268K
71	50327	Pleasant Hill	55	C	1	$303K
72	50322	Urbandale	54	D	3	$264K
73	50237	Runnells	53	D	0	$326K
74	50323	Urbandale	52	D	3	$457K
75	50325	Clive	52	D	0	$379K
76	50398	Urbandale	52	D	3	—
77	50312	Des Moines	51	D	6	$274K
78	50324	Windsor Heights	45	D	0	$252K
79	50007	Alleman	40	D	0	$294K