Iowa · population 7,081
Lead pipes in Charles, IA
773 lead or galvanized lines to replace
Most of Charles (population 7,081) gets its water from Charles City Water Supply. That system reported 11 lead and 762 galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines out of 3,380, with 458 more of unknown material.
23% of Charles City Water Supply's service lines are lead or galvanized requiring replacement, higher than the Iowa average (5.6%) and higher than the national average (3.1%).
- Lead 0.3%
- Galvanized (replace) 23%
- Unknown 14%
- Non-lead 64%
Latest lead test for Charles City Water Supply (Jan 2023–Dec 2025): 6.2 ppb at the 90th percentile, against a 15 ppb federal action level. Full test history.
Compliance record: EPA lists no Lead and Copper Rule violations since 2015 for Charles City Water Supply.
Water systems serving Charles
| Water system | Lead | Galv. | Unknown | % lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City Water SupplyMain system | 11 | 762 | 458 | 23% |
Matched from EPA water system service area boundaries and the cities each system reports serving. Edges of the city may be served by a neighboring system; your water bill names your utility.
Check your address in Charles
The counts above cover the whole water system. To see whether your line is lead, look up your address on Charles City Water Supply's official inventory. Utilities had to make these public by October 16, 2024.
No map yet? Do the 2-minute scratch and magnet test.
Protect your drinking water
If your line is lead, galvanized or unknown, use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead for drinking, cooking and baby formula, and use only cold water.
Choosing a lead-certified filter · Testing your water · Replacement cost
Nearby cities
- Nashua1 lead + galv. lines
- Osageno lead reported
- Nora Springs36 lead + galv. lines
- New Hampton21 unknown
- Clarksville35 lead + galv. lines
- Shell Rockno lead reported
- St. Ansgar39 lead + galv. lines
- Waverly877 lead + galv. lines
Check another water system
Questions
Does Charles, IA have lead pipes?
Yes. Charles City Water Supply, which serves Charles, reported 11 lead and 762 galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines, plus 458 of unknown material.
Who supplies water to Charles?
EPA's service area maps place most of Charles in Charles City Water Supply's service area (PWSID IA3405012).
How do I check whether my Charles home has a lead service line?
Search your address on Charles City Water Supply's service line inventory map. You can also scratch the pipe where water enters your home: lead is soft, dull gray, scratches to shiny silver and doesn't attract a magnet.
When will lead pipes in Charles be replaced?
EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require most systems to replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines by December 31, 2037. Ask Charles City Water Supply whether your street is scheduled and whether it covers the private side.