Public water system · IA5903011
ActiveChariton Municipal Water Works
At a glance
Chariton Municipal Water Works (PWSID IA5903011) is an active community water system in Lucas County, Iowa. It reports serving 4,381 people through 1,994 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, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2018.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
4,381
Service connections
1,994
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Chariton Municipal Water Works compare with other water systems in Lucas County?
By EPA's size categories, Chariton Municipal Water Works is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Lucas County has 2 active public water systems, and Chariton Municipal Water Works is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 80% above the county average of 2,429 people per system, and accounts for 90% of the 4,858 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 Chariton Municipal Water Works is about 35% 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 Chariton Municipal Water Works?
EPA lists Chariton Municipal 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. 2 of the 2 active systems in Lucas County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Chariton Municipal Water Works have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2018. The violations listed here began between October 2016 and October 2018. By type: 8 required treatment not met, 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Surface Water Treatment Rule (8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitritecode 1041 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-08-14 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation without NPDWR Violation · code 76 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-05-21 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-05-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-04-18 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-04-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-03-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-02-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-01-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-12-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-11-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-10-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | 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.
Chariton Municipal Water Works: frequently asked questions
Who runs Chariton Municipal Water Works?
Chariton Municipal Water Works (PWSID IA5903011) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Chariton Municipal Water Works serve?
Chariton Municipal Water Works reports serving 4,381 people through 1,994 service connections in Lucas County, Iowa.
Where does Chariton Municipal 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 Chariton Municipal Water Works have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2018. 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 Chariton Municipal 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, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2018. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Chariton Municipal Water Works' water quality report?
As a community water system, Chariton Municipal 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 Lucas County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Water Supply | Lucas | 477 | 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, “Chariton Municipal Water Works, PWSID IA5903011, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/chariton-municipal-water-works-ia5903011 (data as of October 1, 2026).