Iowa · 17 community water systems
Lead pipes in Polk County, IA
17 community water systems serving Polk County reported 14,748 lead and 132 galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines, plus 51,872 of unknown material. The most are in Des Moines Water Works.
7.7% of these systems' lines are lead or galvanized requiring replacement, higher than the Iowa average (5.6%) and higher than the national average (3.1%).
- Lead 7.7%
- Galvanized (replace) <0.1%
- Unknown 27%
- Non-lead 65%
Water systems serving Polk County
| Water system | Lead | Galv. | Unknown | % lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Water WorksDes Moines | 8,114 | 10 | 45,950 | 9.0% |
| City of AnkenyAnkeny | 6,630 | 0 | 0 | 23% |
| West Des Moines Water WorksWest Des Moines | 0 | 59 | 4,590 | 0.3% |
| Clive Water DepartmentClive | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0.7% |
| Sheldahl Water SupplySheldahl | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5.2% |
| Grimes Water SupplyGrimes | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.1% |
| Southeast Polk RWDAltoona | 3 | 0 | 1,238 | <0.1% |
| Grimes MHPGrimes | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4.6% |
| Mitchellville Water SupplyMitchellville | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0.1% |
| Altoona Water SupplyAltoona | 0 | 0 | 70 | 0% |
| Polk City Water SupplyPolk City | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0% |
| Urbandale Water UtilityUrbandale | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Johnston Municipal Water SupplyJohnston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Bondurant Muni Water SupplyBondurant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Park View VillageGrimes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Camp Dodge Water SupplyJohnston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Autumn Ridge Estates MHPAnkeny | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Systems that also serve other counties are counted in full. Your water bill names your utility.
What to do if your line is lead or unknown
- Check the pipe where water enters your home.
- Use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead for drinking and cooking.
- Test your water, often free through the utility.
- Ask your utility about free or discounted replacement; most lines must be replaced by December 31, 2037.
Check another water system
Questions
Does Polk County have lead pipes?
Yes. Water systems serving Polk County reported 14,748 lead and 132 galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines, plus 51,872 of unknown material.
Which Polk County water systems have the most lead lines?
Des Moines Water Works (8,124), City of Ankeny (6,630), West Des Moines Water Works (59).
How do I check my home in Polk County?
Find the water system named on your water bill in the table above, open its page and use its address-level inventory. You can also scratch-test the pipe where it enters your home.