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Public water system record

Grinnell Water Department

Serves Grinnell, Poweshiek County, IA · 9,564 people served

Federal records show 11 health-based violations and 3 monitoring/reporting issues for Grinnell Water Department in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a Combined Radium (-226 and -228) violation that EPA lists as archived, not resolved.

  • IA7930008
  • GRINNELL
  • IA
  • 9,564 served

System profile

Source water Groundwater
ZIP 50112
EPA system ID IA7930008

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
11
Resolved
0
Unresolved
0
Archived by EPA
11
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
3

Key facts

  • Grinnell Water Department draws water from 5 wells.
  • Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Combined Radium (-226 and -228), 8.36 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.7 times the limit), 2024.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Iowa, August 2025.
  • Record on file since 1989, with 1 health-based violation before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 1,509 lead and 4,133 unknown out of 6,717 service lines.

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Health-based violations

Since October 2016

Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.

Contaminant Rule family Start date Status Acute
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.4 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.3 times the limit)
 340 Apr 1, 2025 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.45 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.3 times the limit)
 340 Jan 1, 2025 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 22 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.5 times the limit)
 340 Jan 1, 2025 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 21.8 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.5 times the limit)
 340 Oct 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.325 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.5 times the limit)
 340 Oct 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 20.5 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.4 times the limit)
 340 Jul 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 7.94 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.6 times the limit)
 340 Jul 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 20.1 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.3 times the limit)
 340 Apr 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 8.36 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.7 times the limit)
 340 Apr 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 15.65 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (at or just above the limit)
 340 Jan 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.2 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.2 times the limit)
 340 Jan 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.

Issue Start date Status
Public Notice
OTHER
 Dec 17, 2024 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Monitoring and reporting
 Jul 1, 2023 Resolved
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Monitoring and reporting
 Jul 1, 2023 Resolved

Full record since 1989

EPA's records for Grinnell Water Department go back to 1989. Before October 19, 2016 they list 1 health-based violation (1 resolved) and 3 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
1980s 0 1
1990s 0 2
2000s 1 0
2020s 11 3

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began October 2003, Resolved.

Show the health-based violation before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Oct 1, 2003 Resolved

Enforcement actions

Iowa regulators took 1 formal enforcement action against Grinnell Water Department in 2025, filed as 12 records in EPA's data. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in August 2025.

Date By Action Violations covered
Aug 1, 2025 Iowa Compliance order (no penalty) 12 violations (10 health-based): Combined Radium (-226 and -228), Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U

What the violations mean

Combined Radium (-226 and -228)

6 incidents

Test results for Combined Radium (-226 and -228) were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).

The utility had to notify customers about each of these violations.

Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U

5 incidents

Test results for Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).

The utility had to notify customers about each of these violations.

Where the water comes from

Grinnell Water Department draws water from 5 wells. 1 other community water system buys water from Grinnell Water Department.

Community systems that buy water from it

Annual water quality report

Grinnell Water Department must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.

Where the state allows it, systems serving fewer than 10,000 people may publish the report in a local newspaper or news site instead of mailing it, and must provide a copy on request.

Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search

Testing your own water

To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Iowa.

Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells