No PFAS were detected in any of the 12 samples EPA's program collected.
Des Moines Water Works is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Des Moines, Iowa, serving about 246,055 people, including Alleman, Altoona, Ankeny, Berwick, Bondurant, Cambridge. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 12 times across 3 sampling points between Feb 2023 and Nov 2023.
None of the 29 PFAS were found at or above EPA's minimum reporting levels (2 to 20 ppt depending on the compound).
Not detected: PFDoA, 4:2 FTS, PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, PFPeA, PFEESA, PFMPA, PFMBA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, 8:2 FTS, NEtFOSAA, PFDA, PFTrDA, PFOA, NMeFOSAA, PFTA, PFHpA, 6:2 FTS, PFHxA, PFBS, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 28 ppb, detected in 9 of 12 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
No PFAS action is needed on these results. If your water tastes or smells of chlorine, a whole-house city water filter is the usual fix.
All 152 tested systems in Iowa
50007 50009 50021 50023 50032 50035 50046 50047 50061 50073 50124 50131 50169 50211 50226 50244 50263 50265 50302 50306 50309 50310 50311 50312 50313 50314 50315 50316 50317 50318 50319 50320 50321 50322 50324 50327 50392
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Des Moines Water Works water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID IA7727031. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/iowa/des-moines-water-works/
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID IA7727031). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
