Dallas County, Iowa — public water systems

How does Dallas County compare with other Iowa counties?

Dallas County has the 22nd-most active public water systems among the 114 counties listed for active Iowa systems in EPA records; among the 96 with 3 or more systems, the median has 14. Its systems report 147,667 people served in total, the 5th-largest county figure in the state and 4.7% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 6,420 people, about 3.7 times the Iowa average of 1,718. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Dallas County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Dallas County's active systems draw on groundwater (14, 61%), purchased surface water (8, 35%) and purchased groundwater (1, 4.3%). Overall, 65% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 35% on surface water, compared with 92% and 7.8% across Iowa. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, West Des Moines Water Works, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Dallas County?

Dallas County's active systems break down as 20 community systems (87%) and 3 transient non-community systems (13%). 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. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (57%), private (39%) and public/private partnership (4.3%).