Public water system · IA5715093
ActiveCedar Rapids Water Department
At a glance
Cedar Rapids Water Department (PWSID IA5715093) is an active community water system in Linn County, Iowa. It reports serving 142,364 people through 54,796 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater under influence of surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2017.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
142,364
Service connections
54,796
Primary source
GU
Groundwater under influence of surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Cedar Rapids Water Department compare with other water systems in Linn County?
By EPA's size categories, Cedar Rapids Water Department is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). Linn County has 82 active public water systems, and Cedar Rapids Water Department is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 52 times the county average of 2,739 people per system, and accounts for 63% of the 224,589 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 Cedar Rapids Water Department is about 21 times 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 under the influence of surface water is well or spring water that the regulator has found to be affected by nearby surface water, so it is regulated under the surface-water treatment rules. 7 Iowa systems (0.4%) list groundwater under influence of surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Cedar Rapids Water Department?
EPA lists Cedar Rapids 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. 23 of the 82 active systems in Linn County (28%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Cedar Rapids Water Department have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2017. The violations listed here began between October 1986 and September 2017. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 3 required treatment not met and 1 monitoring. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (3 of them). EPA lists 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-09-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-12-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-12-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2007-03-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Antimonycode 1074 | No | Resolved |
| 1991-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1986-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Fluoridecode 1025 | No | Resolved |
| 1986-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
All 8 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.
Cedar Rapids Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Cedar Rapids Water Department?
Cedar Rapids Water Department (PWSID IA5715093) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Cedar Rapids Water Department serve?
Cedar Rapids Water Department reports serving 142,364 people through 54,796 service connections in Linn County, Iowa.
Where does Cedar Rapids Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater under influence of surface water. Groundwater under the influence of surface water is well or spring water that the regulator has found to be affected by nearby surface water, so it is regulated under the surface-water treatment rules.
Does Cedar Rapids Water Department have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2017. 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 Cedar Rapids 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 8 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2017. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Cedar Rapids Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Cedar Rapids 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 Linn County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Municipal Water Dept | Linn | 41,623 | Community | Groundwater |
| Hiawatha Water Dept | Linn | 7,183 | Community | Groundwater |
| Mount Vernon Water Supply | Linn | 4,527 | Community | Groundwater |
| Fairfax Water Supply | Linn | 2,828 | Community | Groundwater |
| Center Point Water Supply | Linn | 2,579 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ely Water Supply | Linn | 2,328 | 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, “Cedar Rapids Water Department, PWSID IA5715093, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/cedar-rapids-water-department-ia5715093 (data as of October 1, 2026).