Public water system · IA1108025
ActiveAlta Municipal Water Plant
At a glance
Alta Municipal Water Plant (PWSID IA1108025) is an active community water system in Buena Vista County, Iowa. It reports serving 2,087 people through 790 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in October 1994.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,087
Service connections
790
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Alta Municipal Water Plant compare with other water systems in Buena Vista County?
By EPA's size categories, Alta Municipal Water Plant is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Buena Vista County has 12 active public water systems, and Alta Municipal Water Plant is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 42% above the county average of 1,475 people per system, and accounts for 12% of the 17,699 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Iowa, the 1,828 active systems average 1,718 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Alta Municipal Water Plant is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Iowa has 1,084 active community water systems, 59% of the state's 1,828 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 1,502 Iowa systems (82%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Alta Municipal Water Plant?
EPA lists Alta Municipal Water Plant as owned by a local government. The IA state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 10 of the 12 active systems in Buena Vista County (83%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Alta Municipal Water Plant have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in October 1994. By type: 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved is Total coliform bacteria (TCR). EPA lists 1 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
The one violation in EPA's records.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Alta Municipal Water Plant: frequently asked questions
Who runs Alta Municipal Water Plant?
Alta Municipal Water Plant (PWSID IA1108025) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Alta Municipal Water Plant serve?
Alta Municipal Water Plant reports serving 2,087 people through 790 service connections in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
Where does Alta Municipal Water Plant get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Alta Municipal Water Plant have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in October 1994. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Alta Municipal Water Plant's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in October 1994. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Alta Municipal Water Plant's water quality report?
As a community water system, Alta Municipal Water Plant must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Buena Vista County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake Water Treatment Plant | Buena Vista | 11,431 | Community | Groundwater |
| Sioux Rapids Water Department | Buena Vista | 932 | Community | Groundwater |
| Newell Water Treatment Plant | Buena Vista | 906 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lakeside Water Supply | Buena Vista | 700 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Albert City Muni Water Supply | Buena Vista | 677 | Community | Groundwater |
| Marathon Light & Water Department | Buena Vista | 230 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Alta Municipal Water Plant, PWSID IA1108025, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/alta-municipal-water-plant-ia1108025 (data as of October 1, 2026).