Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa
Tap water in CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa receives a grade of D (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in CEDAR RAPIDS's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving CEDAR RAPIDS.
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.
Recommended filters for CEDAR RAPIDS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in CEDAR RAPIDS's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in CEDAR RAPIDS's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from CEDAR RAPIDS WATER DEPARTMENT.