Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in WEST DES MOINES, Iowa
Tap water in WEST DES MOINES, Iowa receives a grade of F (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Dibromoacetic acid significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in WEST DES MOINES's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving WEST DES MOINES.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernTotal PFOS and PFOA, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 39.1 ppb, 261x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 12.3 ppb, 206x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Dibromoacetic acid significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernDibromoacetic acid detected at 3.59 ppb, 120x above the EWG health guideline of 0.03 ppb.
Recommended filters for WEST DES MOINES
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in WEST DES MOINES's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
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 WEST 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 |
39.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 261× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
12.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 206× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.59 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 92× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.79 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 88× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.867 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 43× over |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
0.25 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 36× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
17.4 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
2.89 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.53 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.73 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.21 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.0× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.613 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.4× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.125 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0517 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.235 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
130.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Atrazine* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0333 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate (6 2FTS) Other |
0.25 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.58 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.0 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)* Volatile organic compound |
0.2 ppb | 4.0 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.427 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.425 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.692 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.569 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.306 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.162 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.1 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 |
162.0 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 WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS.