Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Des Moines, Iowa
Tap water in Des Moines, Iowa receives a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by DES MOINES WATER WORKS. The most significant water quality concerns are: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Des Moines's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Des Moines.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 55.4 ppb, 369x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromodichloromethane detected at 15.8 ppb, 263x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 12.7 ppb, 211x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for DES MOINES WATER WORKS (system ID IA7727031) 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.
Recommended filters for Des Moines
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Des Moines's water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC or chloroform reduction.
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 Des Moines'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
55.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 369× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
15.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 263× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
12.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 211× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 109× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
10.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 101× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.81 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 94× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
25.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.712 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.59 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.72 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.76 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.6× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.09 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
127.4 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0333 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
2.93 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) Volatile organic compound |
0.2 ppb | 4.0 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.783 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.198 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.327 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.11 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.099 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.207 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dalapon Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.2 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.725 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
14.8 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Metolachlor Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.2 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.000278 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine Other |
0.000917 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Quinoline Other |
0.065 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 DES MOINES WATER WORKS.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Des Moines's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: