Water System Report IA

Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities

EPA ID: IA0709084 ยท 40,713 people served ยท 4 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities (IA0709084): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. EPA data: Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities - zero violations, five years, 40,713 served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 67
Avg Safety Score
40,713
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0014 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$221K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$69,250
Median Household Income
93,895
Service Area Population
34%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
71%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities serves a community with a median household income of $69,250 and an estimated 93,895 residents across its service area. Approximately 71% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 34% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
80th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

59 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
9 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 87% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 8 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Iowa

C 0 violations
ISU
42,000 people
1 violation
Urbandale Water Utility
45,605 people
C 0 violations
C 0 violations
Waukee Water Supply
31,823 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,650
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $300
Total Estimated Cost $3,150

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,150 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities (EPA ID: IA0709084) is a community water system in Iowa that serves approximately 40,713 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (67/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 4 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0014 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by IA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities (IA0709084) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities serve?

Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities serves approximately 40,713 people across 4 ZIP codes in Iowa.

Where does Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
464

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities safe to drink?
Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities serve?
Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities serves approximately 40,713 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities's water source?
Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0014 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities's service area?
The Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities service area has a median household income of $69,250. EPA EJScreen data classifies 34% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities get its water?
Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities, IA: Serves 41K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ia0709084/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ia0709084,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities, IA: Serves 41K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ia0709084/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities (EPA ID: IA0709084) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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