Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
DES MOINES WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded C (65/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 246,055 residents in DES MOINES, Iowa using surface water (purchased). 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 515-283-8751.
Is DES MOINES tap water safe to drink?
DES MOINES WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 246,055 residents in DES MOINES, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Dibromochloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromoacetic acid, Chloroform, Chromium (hexavalent), Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform. 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.
Quick actions for DES MOINES residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for DES MOINES WATER WORKS.
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.
Contact DES MOINES WATER WORKS
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 DES MOINES
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 65/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
DES MOINES WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Polk County, Iowa. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for DES MOINES water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.