Public water system · IA1150030
ActiveMarathon Light & Water Department
At a glance
Marathon Light & Water Department (PWSID IA1150030) is an active community water system in Buena Vista County, Iowa. It reports serving 230 people through 120 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2007.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
230
Service connections
120
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Marathon Light & Water Department compare with other water systems in Buena Vista County?
By EPA's size categories, Marathon Light & Water Department is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Buena Vista County has 12 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 1,475 people per system, and accounts for 1.3% of the 17,699 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 Marathon Light & 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 1,502 Iowa systems (82%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Marathon Light & Water Department?
EPA lists Marathon Light & 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. 10 of the 12 active systems in Buena Vista County (83%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Marathon Light & Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2007. The violations listed here began between July 1985 and January 2007. By type: 7 contaminant level above the legal limit and 5 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Arsenic (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Arseniccode 1005 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2006-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Arseniccode 1005 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2006-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Arseniccode 1005 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2006-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Arseniccode 1005 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1992-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1988-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1985-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Bariumcode 1010 | No | Resolved |
| 1985-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Cadmiumcode 1015 | No | 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.
Marathon Light & Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Marathon Light & Water Department?
Marathon Light & Water Department (PWSID IA1150030) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Marathon Light & Water Department serve?
Marathon Light & Water Department reports serving 230 people through 120 service connections in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
Where does Marathon Light & Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Marathon Light & Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2007. 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 Marathon Light & 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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2007. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Marathon Light & Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Marathon Light & 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 Buena Vista County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake Water Treatment Plant | Buena Vista | 11,431 | Community | Groundwater |
| Alta Municipal Water Plant | Buena Vista | 2,087 | Community | Groundwater |
| Sioux Rapids Water Department | Buena Vista | 932 | Community | Groundwater |
| Newell Water Treatment Plant | Buena Vista | 906 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lakeside Water Supply | Buena Vista | 700 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Albert City Muni Water Supply | Buena Vista | 677 | 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, “Marathon Light & Water Department, PWSID IA1150030, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/marathon-light-water-department-ia1150030 (data as of October 1, 2026).