Altoona Tap Water Quality Report
Altoona's water has 3 contaminants above EPA MCLGs. Consider using a certified water filter for additional protection.
1 other system serving parts of Altoona reports results above guidelines — check which system bills you. SOUTHEAST POLK RWD (3 above guidelines)
Other systems listed for Altoona with results above guidelines: DES MOINES WATER WORKS (2 above guidelines)
Water system
ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY
1 other system also serves parts of Altoona. 1 other system is listed for Altoona. See their figures
People Served
19,565
Health-based violations since 2020
1
ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY. EPA SDWA violation data as of Q2 2026 (downloaded 2026-07-09).
Latest sample on file
Mar 2024 · ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY
Utilities publish newer results in their annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report).
Is Altoona Tap Water Safe to Drink?
We recommend using a certified water filter for additional protection, especially for vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. Altoona's water has 3 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines (MCLGs).
ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY, Altoona's water system, serves 19,565 people. 1 other system also serves parts of Altoona. 1 other system is listed for Altoona. Each system's results are listed under its own name, never added to ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY's. Water quality testing is conducted regularly and reported to the EPA. The latest sample on file for ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY is from Mar 2024.
In EPA's 2023–2026 UCMR 5 testing, ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY measured lithium at up to 250 µg/L, which EPA counts as above its health reference level of 10 µg/L. That level is a screening value EPA uses to decide what to study further, not a legal limit, and this result does not change this page's water-quality summary.
Boil water advisories are issued by water systems and state agencies, and they change from day to day. Boil water advisories in Iowa
Altoona Water Service Areas
What these numbers actually mean for Altoona, IA
We read Altoona, IA’s published record and send you a short report — which findings warrant a decision, which to ignore, and what to do about it. Including when the answer is nothing.
- 3 contaminants above EPA MCLGs and 4 contaminants with an EPA health goal detected in some samples (no level on file)
- 84 results on file
- 23 PFAS compounds on record
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Recommended Water Filters for Altoona
Based on Altoona's water quality data, these NSF-certified filters are recommended to remove contaminants above EPA MCLGs.
Solventum Purification Inc.
3MRO401
NSF Certified:
Daily Production
11.48 gpd
Highlights:
- NSF-58 certified reverse osmosis system
- 11.48 GPD production capacity
- Reduces total dissolved solids (TDS) for purer water
Removes 15 contaminants:
+10 more
Copper, Cryptosporidium, Fluoride, Lead, Radium 226, Radium 228, Radium, combined (-226 & -228), Selenium, Total Dissolved Solids, Turbidity
Solventum Purification Inc.
3MRO301
NSF Certified:
Daily Production
11.48 gpd
Highlights:
- NSF-58 certified reverse osmosis system
- 11.48 GPD production capacity
- Reduces total dissolved solids (TDS) for purer water
Removes 15 contaminants:
+10 more
Copper, Cryptosporidium, Fluoride, Lead, Radium 226, Radium 228, Radium, combined (-226 & -228), Selenium, Total Dissolved Solids, Turbidity
Culligan
ZeroWater
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
1.9 gpm
Daily Production
1 gpd
Highlights:
- Compact design
- Easy to set up
- Affordable
- NSF-42, NSF-53, NSF-401 certified
Removes 19 contaminants:
+14 more
Strontium, Molybdenum, Fluoride, Uranium, Lead, Total PFAS, Chlorine, 25, Phosphorus, Bicarbonate, Calcium, Carbonate, Magnesium, Sodium
Santevia
Bath Filter
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
0.36 gpm
Highlights:
- Organic cotton design reduces plastic used in construction
- Affordable upfront & ongoing cost
- The only bath filter that removed 100% chlorine with “normal” faster faucet flow
Removes 1 contaminants:
Verify Your Water Quality with Independent Testing
With 3 contaminants above EPA MCLGs and 4 contaminants with an EPA health goal detected in some samples (no level on file), independent laboratory testing provides a second opinion and can track changes over time.
SimpleLab
Advanced Home Water Test
$269
Comprehensive water analysis testing over 200 contaminants including bacteria, heavy metals, and chemical compounds.
Tap Score
Advanced Microplastics Test
$829
Cutting-edge testing for microplastics particles in drinking water using advanced laboratory techniques.
Tap Score
Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) Test
$275
Tests for disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water treatment.
With 3 contaminants above health guidelines, you may want to explore water purification options. Learn how to make distilled water at home for applications like humidifiers, CPAP machines, and baby formula.
What Altoona's water readings can explain
Utility-reported data for Altoona includes a chlorine-based disinfectant — the readings behind these common tap water questions. We publish a city-level hardness figure for Altoona, resolved from its water systems where they report one and estimated from county sampling where they do not. Each page starts with the hot-tap and cold-tap check, then shows what your own water system reported.
On a private well near Altoona? Public-water results do not apply to private wells. See Polk County well water testing and USGS risk data — modeled arsenic, nitrate, and the tests to run.
Water softener cost and installation in Altoona
Altoona's tap water has an estimated 17.3 grains per gallon (296.0 mg/L, county sampling in Polk County) — very hard on the USGS scale, the range where scale on fixtures and appliances is the usual complaint.
Water softener cost for an estimated 17.3 gpg water in Altoona — equipment and local installation labour for your ZIP code, with the sizing arithmetic shown in full. For the national picture first, read what a water softener costs — equipment, installation labour and ten-year ownership, each separated out. For Iowa as a whole, read water softener cost in Iowa — priced against the plumber wage published for the state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Altoona Tap Water
Altoona's water has 3 contaminants above EPA MCLGs. We recommend using a certified water filter for additional protection, especially for vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.
Spotted something off on this page?
Residents keep our data honest.
This form corrects our data; it does not reach ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY. For a problem with your water now (discolored water, no water, low pressure, a leak), contact ALTOONA WATER SUPPLY directly.
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