Ames Water Treatment Plant
EPA ID: IA8503039 · 55,177 people served · 6 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Ames Water Treatment Plant (IA8503039): 1 EPA violation in the last five years. Over the tracked period, Ames Water Treatment Plant logged 1 EPA violation - each has been remedied, and the system now supplies 55,177 people in good standing.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Ames Water Treatment Plant Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The Ames Water Treatment Plant serves a community with a median household income of $73,845 and an estimated 80,139 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Ames Water Treatment Plant'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.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Ames Water Treatment Plant compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Iowa
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
Ames Water Treatment Plant (EPA ID: IA8503039) is a community water system in Iowa that serves approximately 55,177 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 6 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 1 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0 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 $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree 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 Ames Water Treatment Plant (IA8503039) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ames Water Treatment Plant water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Ames Water Treatment Plant; its 1 accepted 2021-2026 record are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does Ames Water Treatment Plant serve?
Ames Water Treatment Plant serves approximately 55,177 people across 6 ZIP codes in Iowa.
Where does Ames Water Treatment Plant 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.
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 →
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Ames Water Treatment Plant (IA): 1 EPA Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ia8503039/
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title = {{Ames Water Treatment Plant (IA): 1 EPA Violation}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ia8503039/}
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Ames Water Treatment Plant (EPA ID: IA8503039) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.