COUNTY REPORT IA

Van Buren County, Iowa

9 ZIP codes · Avg score 57/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Monitoring figures for Van Buren County indicate average water quality overall — some ZIP codes among the 9 tracked have recorded health-based violations, while others operate cleanly, making individual ZIP-level data the most actionable reference point.

How Van Buren County Compares

Van Buren County57/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Van Buren County Compares

C
County Grade
57/100
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
10
Water Systems

Van Buren County scores 2 points below the Iowa state average (59/100) and 11 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
57
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 52651 (66/100)
Lowest ZIP: 52573 (40/100)
$111K
Median Home Value
$1,967
Avg Remediation (178% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Van Buren 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: 15.4 (asthma 10.5%, diabetes 13.9%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $770, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.456% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk

70.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.5% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.9% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.5% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1976
Median Build Year
70.6%
Pre-1978 Housing
46%
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: $770

Energy Code Gap $270/yr
Flood $267/yr
Water / Lead $233/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

3,694 housing units in Van Buren County

Pre-1940 33%
1940–1959 7%
1960–1979 22%
1980–1999 23%
2000+ 15%

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 Van Buren County

$111K
Median Home Value
$1,967
Est. Remediation Cost
1.8%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County residents

Asthma 10.5% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.9% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.5% (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 Van Buren County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Rathbun Regional Water Assn (rathbun) 33,000 5
2 Milton Water Supply 380 2
3 Pulaski Municipal Water Department 264 2
4 Cantril Water Supply 224 1
5 Keosauqua Water Works 961 1

10 total water systems serve Van Buren County.

All ZIP Codes in Van Buren County

9 ZIP codes tracked in Van Buren County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 52651 Stockport 66 C 0 $77K
2 52620 Bonaparte 65 C 0 $166K
3 52542 Cantril 64 C 1 $111K
4 52626 Farmington 62 C 1 $89K
5 52565 Keosauqua 57 C 1 $171K
6 52535 Birmingham 55 C 0 $156K
7 52570 Milton 54 D 2 $102K
8 52551 Douds 53 D 0 $97K
9 52573 Mount Sterling 40 D 0 $113K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Van Buren County

If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.

Overview

Van Buren County in Iowa covers 9 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (57/100).

4 of 9 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 Van Buren County?
Van Buren 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 Van Buren County?
Van Buren County is served by 10 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 9 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Van Buren County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Van Buren County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $770 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Van Buren County?
The median home build year in Van Buren County is 1976. 70.6% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Van Buren County compare to Iowa?
Van Buren County has an average water safety score of 57/100, which is below the Iowa state average of 59/100.

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