Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS
WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 73,959 residents in WEST DES MOINES, Iowa using surface water (purchased). 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 515-222-3465.
Is WEST DES MOINES tap water safe to drink?
WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 73,959 residents in WEST DES MOINES, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Dibromoacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Total PFOS and PFOA, Bromoform, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chloroform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Trichloroacetic acid. 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 WEST 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 WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS.
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.
Contact WEST 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 WEST DES MOINES
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 55/100 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 |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
WEST 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 WEST DES MOINES water
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