Monitoring Violations IA

Forest City Water Supply

EPA ID: IA9525047 · 4,285 people served · 1 ZIP code

Based on the latest federal compliance data, Forest City Water Supply has 1 violation that the EPA has not yet closed — those outstanding findings are part of the enforcement record for a utility that delivers water to approximately 4,285 people throughout its service territory.

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

C · 68
Avg Safety Score
4,285
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.005 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
1
Contaminants Flagged
$164K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$68,600
Median Household Income
5,760
Service Area Population
0%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
80%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Forest City Water Supply serves a community with a median household income of $68,600 and an estimated 5,760 residents across its service area. Approximately 80% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Forest City 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
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Winnebago 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

66 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 Forest City Water Supply 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

C 0 violations
C 0 violations
Clarinda Water Plant
4,372 people
B 0 violations
D 0 violations
D 3 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

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

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 $2,400 (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

Forest City Water Supply (EPA ID: IA9525047) is a community water system in Iowa that serves approximately 4,285 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 50436 in Forest City.

Average Home Safety Score: C (68/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
August 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved

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 sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
50436 0.005 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 Forest City Water Supply (IA9525047) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forest City Water Supply water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Forest City Water Supply serve?

Forest City Water Supply serves approximately 4,285 people across 1 ZIP code in Iowa.

Where does Forest City 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:

285
Confirmed Lead
13
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
1,431
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 4,285
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 →

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

Is water from Forest City Water Supply safe to drink?
Forest City Water Supply has a C safety grade based on 1 recorded violation. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Forest City Water Supply's water?
Detected contaminants include Consumer Confidence Report Rule. 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 Forest City Water Supply serve?
Forest City Water Supply serves approximately 4,285 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Forest City Water Supply's water source?
Forest City Water Supply draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Forest City Water Supply's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.005 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Forest City Water Supply's service area?
The Forest City Water Supply service area has a median household income of $68,600. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Forest City Water Supply get its water?
Forest City 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

Forest City Water Supply (EPA ID: IA9525047) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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