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Is there PFAS in Poweshiek Water Association water?

No PFAS were detected in any of the 2 samples EPA's program collected.

Poweshiek Water Association Serves 13,920 people · 2 PFOA samples from 1 sampling point · Feb 2024 to Aug 2024 No PFAS detected
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid not detected
EPA 4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid not detected
EPA 4
Averages are for the worst sampling point, with non-detects counted as zero. Source: EPA UCMR 5.

Poweshiek Water Association is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Tama, Iowa, serving about 13,920 people, including Barnes City, Gibson, Grinnell, Malcom, Montezuma, Searsboro. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 2 times across 1 sampling point between Feb 2024 and Aug 2024.

Every PFAS detected

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: HFPO-DA, PFHxS, PFHxA, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHpA, PFBA, PFNA, PFPeS, PFTA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFHpS, 6:2 FTS, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFMBA, PFPeA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, NMeFOSAA.

Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.

What the EPA limits mean here

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.

What you can do at home

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.

Other systems in Iowa

All 152 tested systems in Iowa

ZIP codes served

50027 50104 50112 50157 50171 50242 52208 52209 52211 52215 52222 52236 52249 52257 52301 52316 52339 52346 52347 52354 52355 52356 52361

As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.

Cite this page

Well & Tap. "PFAS in Poweshiek Water Association water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID IA8670701. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/iowa/poweshiek-water-association/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID IA8670701). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.