Des Moines, IA Water Quality Report
Is Des Moines tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Des Moines, Iowa. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Des Moines tap water safe to drink? Des Moines tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 22.64 ppt across 1 compound. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Des Moines water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Des Moines water: lithium (30 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Des Moines? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Des Moines Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Des Moines drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 30 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 22.64 ppt across 1 detected compound.
Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 30 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Des Moines Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 9 lead samples for Des Moines water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Des Moines
Des Moines public water systems have 1 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violation on record, including Arsenic. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Des Moines: approximately 214,133.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Des Moines to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Des Moines Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually