IA / Des Moines
IA · Tap water records
Des Moines tap water, in plain English
Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Des Moines. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved June 2026, Des Moines is served by 6 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 254,584 people.
As of June 2026, EPA records show 7 violations across the community water system(s) serving Des Moines, going back to the earliest EPA record. 2 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.
What the EPA has on record, by system
Des Moines Water Works
246,055 served · surface water · PWSID IA7727031 - Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 2 times in May 2017. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
- Monitoring Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in November 2018. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
- Monitoring CYANIDE: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in October 2009. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Southeast Polk Rwd
7,565 served · surface water · PWSID IA7774701 As of June 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Val Vista Estates
553 served · surface water · PWSID IA7727607 As of June 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Dmww-Greenbrier Estates
300 served · surface water · PWSID IA7709801 - Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in April 1991. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Castle Creek Memory Care
86 served · groundwater · PWSID NC0465195 As of June 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Ciww (Dmww)
25 served · surface water · PWSID IA7727033 As of June 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved June 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.