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 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
- Norwalk Water Supply none detected
- Xenia Rwd (des Moines) none detected
- Oskaloosa Municipal Water Dept none detected
- Boone Water Works none detected
- Indianola Water Supply none detected
- Rathbun Reg Water Assn (ft Madison) 1 PFAS detected
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.