Monitoring Violations IA

Villisca Municipal Water Department

EPA ID: IA6985051 · 1,132 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Right now, Villisca Municipal Water Department shows 1 EPA violation marked active and unresolved — the provider continues to supply approximately 1,132 residents while each finding awaits closure.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 64
Avg Safety Score
1,132
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0006 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
1
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Villisca Municipal Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$61,204
Median Household Income
1,762
Service Area Population
50%
Disadvantaged Population
65th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
87%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Villisca Municipal Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $61,204 and an estimated 1,762 residents across its service area. Approximately 87% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 50% 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.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Villisca Municipal Water Department'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Adams County, Iowa rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

68 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
0 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 100% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Villisca Municipal Water Department compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Contaminant 1052 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Iowa

Lake View Water Supply
1,133 people
C 3 violations
Sheffield Water Supply
1,130 people
C 0 violations
Aplington Water Supply
1,126 people
D 0 violations
Calmar Water Supply
1,125 people
C 0 violations
C 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $250
Total Estimated Cost $1,450

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,450 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

VILLISCA MUNICIPAL WATER DEPT (EPA ID: IA6985051) is a community water system in Iowa that serves approximately 1,132 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (64/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

2 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
April 1, 2023 Unknown Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Contaminant 1052 Other Violation 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
50864 0.0006 mg/L No N/A

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 $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Villisca Municipal Water Department (IA6985051) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Villisca Municipal Water Department water safe to drink?

Villisca Municipal Water Department has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Villisca Municipal Water Department serve?

Villisca Municipal Water Department serves approximately 1,132 people across 2 ZIP codes in Iowa.

Where does Villisca Municipal Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
648
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,132
Reported to Iowa

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Villisca Municipal Water Department safe to drink?
Villisca Municipal Water Department has a C safety grade based on 2 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Villisca Municipal Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Contaminant 1052. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Villisca Municipal Water Department serve?
Villisca Municipal Water Department serves approximately 1,132 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Villisca Municipal Water Department's water source?
Villisca Municipal Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Villisca Municipal Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0006 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Villisca Municipal Water Department's service area?
The Villisca Municipal Water Department service area has a median household income of $61,204. EPA EJScreen data classifies 50% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Villisca Municipal Water Department get its water?
Villisca Municipal Water Department'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 violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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 →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Villisca Municipal Water Department (EPA ID: IA6985051) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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