Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in WATERLOO, Iowa
Tap water in WATERLOO, Iowa receives a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by WATERLOO WATER WORKS. The most significant water quality concerns are: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in WATERLOO's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving WATERLOO.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.75 ppt, 1747x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.856 ppb, 214x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 10.6 ppb, 70x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Recommended filters for WATERLOO
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in WATERLOO'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 WATERLOO'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.75 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1747× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.856 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 214× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
10.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 70× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
3.71 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 62× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.35 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 56× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
5.88 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 42× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.0 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
2.71 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.37 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 24× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
4.35 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.186 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.3× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.36 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 7.3× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.616 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.2× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.291 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.789 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.14 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 2.6× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.548 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | 1.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
269.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.512 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| Barium Heavy metal |
133.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
1.69 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
3.6 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00787 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.259 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.581 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.345 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00472 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.529 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.538 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.376 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.182 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.732 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
8.55 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 WATERLOO WATER WORKS.