Public water system · IA8709096
ActiveBedford Water Works
At a glance
Bedford Water Works (PWSID IA8709096) is an active community water system in Taylor County, Iowa. It reports serving 1,533 people through 800 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,533
Service connections
800
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bedford Water Works compare with other water systems in Taylor County?
By EPA's size categories, Bedford Water Works is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Taylor County has 3 active public water systems, and Bedford Water Works is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 36% above the county average of 1,129 people per system, and accounts for 45% of the 3,388 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 Bedford Water Works 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 surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 119 Iowa systems (6.5%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bedford Water Works?
EPA lists Bedford Water Works 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. 3 of the 3 active systems in Taylor County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bedford Water Works have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2025. The violations listed here began between January 2003 and November 2025. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit and 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Haloacetic acids (HAA5) (4 of them). EPA lists 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitritecode 1041 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitritecode 1041 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2003-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
The 12 most recent 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.
Bedford Water Works: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bedford Water Works?
Bedford Water Works (PWSID IA8709096) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Bedford Water Works serve?
Bedford Water Works reports serving 1,533 people through 800 service connections in Taylor County, Iowa.
Where does Bedford Water Works get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Bedford Water Works have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2025. 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 Bedford Water Works' 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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bedford Water Works' water quality report?
As a community water system, Bedford Water Works 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 Taylor County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenox Water Supply | Taylor | 1,470 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| New Market Water Supply | Taylor | 385 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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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, “Bedford Water Works, PWSID IA8709096, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/bedford-water-works-ia8709096 (data as of October 1, 2026).