Public water system · IA8403029
ActiveAlton Municipal Water Department
At a glance
Alton Municipal Water Department (PWSID IA8403029) is an active community water system in Sioux County, Iowa. It reports serving 1,248 people through 515 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2003.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,248
Service connections
515
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Alton Municipal Water Department compare with other water systems in Sioux County?
By EPA's size categories, Alton Municipal Water Department is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Sioux County has 16 active public water systems. Its population served is about half of the county average of 2,416 people per system, and accounts for 3.2% of the 38,650 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 Alton Municipal Water Department 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. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 156 Iowa systems (8.5%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Alton Municipal Water Department?
EPA lists Alton Municipal Water Department 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. 13 of the 16 active systems in Sioux County (81%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Alton Municipal Water Department have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2003. The violations listed here began between April 1988 and December 2003. By type: 10 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (2 of them). EPA lists 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1990-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Fluoridecode 1025 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Bariumcode 1010 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chromiumcode 1020 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Mercurycode 1035 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Seleniumcode 1045 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Cadmiumcode 1015 | No | Resolved |
All 11 violations in EPA's records, newest first.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.
Alton Municipal Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Alton Municipal Water Department?
Alton Municipal Water Department (PWSID IA8403029) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Alton Municipal Water Department serve?
Alton Municipal Water Department reports serving 1,248 people through 515 service connections in Sioux County, Iowa.
Where does Alton Municipal Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Alton Municipal Water Department have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2003. 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 Alton Municipal Water Department'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 11 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2003. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Alton Municipal Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Alton Municipal Water Department 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 Sioux County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Center Municipal Water Department | Sioux | 8,231 | Community | Groundwater |
| Orange City Municipal Water Department | Sioux | 6,267 | Community | Groundwater |
| Southern Sioux County Rural Water | Sioux | 5,420 | Community | Groundwater |
| Rock Valley Water Supply | Sioux | 4,059 | Community | Groundwater |
| Rural Water System #1 | Sioux | 3,428 | Community | Groundwater under influence of surface water |
| Hawarden Water Supply | Sioux | 2,700 | 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, “Alton Municipal Water Department, PWSID IA8403029, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/alton-municipal-water-department-ia8403029 (data as of October 1, 2026).