Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
WATERLOO WATER WORKS
WATERLOO WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded C (68/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 69,504 residents in WATERLOO, Iowa using groundwater. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 319-232-6280.
Is WATERLOO tap water safe to drink?
WATERLOO WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 69,504 residents in WATERLOO, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 19 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Bromodichloromethane, Nitrate, Dibromoacetic acid, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromochloromethane, Chloroform, Chromium (hexavalent), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Trichloroacetic acid, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Dichloroacetic acid, Uranium, Trichloroethylene, Chlorate, 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for WATERLOO WATER WORKS (system ID IA0790074) 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.
Quick actions for WATERLOO residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for WATERLOO WATER WORKS.
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.
Contact WATERLOO 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 WATERLOO
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 68/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
WATERLOO WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WATERLOO water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.