Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT
CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water graded B (82/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 142,364 residents in CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa using groundwater under direct influence. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 319-286-5973.
Is CEDAR RAPIDS tap water safe to drink?
CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water that earns a grade of B (82/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a good rating, with only minor concerns relative to health-based guidelines.
The utility serves 142,364 residents in CEDAR RAPIDS, drawing from groundwater under direct influence.
Public testing data identifies 8 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Chromium (hexavalent), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Nitrate, Dichloroacetic acid, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID IA5715093) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for CEDAR RAPIDS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.527 ppb, 132x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 1.64 ppb, 82x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 4.76 ppb, 79x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for CEDAR RAPIDS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 82/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.527 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 132× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.64 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 82× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.76 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 79× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.41 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.58 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
1.63 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.277 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.6× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
1.83 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.6× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0487 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0338 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.97 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.16 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.27 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.208 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0663 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0125 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dalapon Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0333 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.65 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0688 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Metolachlor Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.2 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.027 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Linn County, Iowa. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for CEDAR RAPIDS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.