We read 10 results from Dubuque Water Works’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 59,667 people · Water system ID IA3126052 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 3 | 5 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal25x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 2 to 4 · Finished water · 2024 report, page 3 | 4 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal571x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest measured · range 2.4 to 4.2 · Finished water · 2024 report, page 3 | 4.2 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.1x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.4 to 1.69 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 3 | 1.1 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 3 | 0.03 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 6 to 8 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 3 | 7 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 51 to 85 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 3 | 65 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridesingle sample · range 0.29 to 0.95 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2021 · Finished water · 2024 report, page 3 | 0.62 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)single sample · listed as a violation in the report · Finished water · 2024 report, page 3 | 0.7 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Sodiumsingle sample · listed as a violation in the report · Finished water · 2024 report, page 3 | 14 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Dubuque Water Works’s water between Jul 2023 and Feb 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA5.1 pptFound in 1 of 2 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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