Monitoring Violations IA

Grimes Water Supply

EPA ID: IA7736011 · 15,392 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Federal data shows 1 unresolved violation at Grimes Water Supply — roughly 15,392 residents in the service area.

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

C · 67
Avg Safety Score
15,392
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
4
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.000525 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
2
Contaminants Flagged
$337K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Grimes Water Supply Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$108,352
Median Household Income
44,013
Service Area Population
23%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
23%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Grimes Water Supply serves a community with a median household income of $108,352 and an estimated 44,013 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Grimes Water Supply'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
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

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

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

26 yr
Avg Pipe Age
PEX or Copper
Pipe Material
41 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 39% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Grimes Water Supply compares to EPA limits

Copper 3 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 1.3 mg/L

What This Means For You

Copper at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 1.3 mg/L.

Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Iowa

Indianola Water Supply
15,833 people
0 violations
Norwalk Water Supply
14,334 people
C 0 violations
Newton Water Supply
16,518 people
C 6 violations
C 3 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,400
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Total Estimated Cost $2,600

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.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,600 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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

Grimes Water Supply (EPA ID: IA7736011) is a community water system in Iowa that serves approximately 15,392 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: C (67/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 26, 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2024 Copper Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2023 Copper Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Copper Inorganic 3 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 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
50111 0.000525 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

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 Grimes Water Supply (IA7736011) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grimes Water Supply water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Grimes Water Supply serve?

Grimes Water Supply serves approximately 15,392 people across 3 ZIP codes in Iowa.

Where does Grimes Water Supply 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
58

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) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
7
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
6,009
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 15,392
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 Grimes Water Supply safe to drink?
Grimes Water Supply has a C safety grade based on 4 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Grimes Water Supply's water?
Detected contaminants include Copper, Lead and Copper Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 contaminants 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 Grimes Water Supply serve?
Grimes Water Supply serves approximately 15,392 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Grimes Water Supply's water source?
Grimes Water Supply draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Grimes Water Supply's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.000525 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Grimes Water Supply's service area?
The Grimes Water Supply service area has a median household income of $108,352. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Grimes Water Supply get its water?
Grimes Water Supply'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.

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

Grimes Water Supply (EPA ID: IA7736011) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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