Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
DUBUQUE WATER WORKS
DUBUQUE WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded F (54/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 59,667 residents in DUBUQUE, Iowa using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 563-589-4291.
Is DUBUQUE tap water safe to drink?
DUBUQUE WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (54/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 59,667 residents in DUBUQUE, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Total PFOS and PFOA, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate. 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 DUBUQUE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for DUBUQUE WATER WORKS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 6.63 ppt, 946x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 47.8 ppb, 319x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 14.4 ppb, 240x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact DUBUQUE 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 DUBUQUE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 54/100 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 PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
6.63 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 946× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
47.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 319× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
14.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 240× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 176× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
32.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 81× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
7.65 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 77× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.59 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 46× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.07 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 34× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.71 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.13 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.349 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.346 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.82 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 9.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.653 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
113.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.164 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.223 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.5 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
10.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.15 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0394 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.26 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.62 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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.
DUBUQUE WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Dubuque County, Iowa. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for DUBUQUE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.