Public water system · IA9083012
ActiveOttumwa Water Works
At a glance
Ottumwa Water Works (PWSID IA9083012) is an active community water system in Wapello County, Iowa. It reports serving 25,529 people through 9,800 service connections. Its primary water source is 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 January 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
25,529
Service connections
9,800
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Ottumwa Water Works compare with other water systems in Wapello County?
By EPA's size categories, Ottumwa Water Works is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Wapello County has 5 active public water systems, and Ottumwa Water Works is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 4.6 times the county average of 5,506 people per system, and accounts for 93% of the 27,531 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 Ottumwa Water Works is about 3.8 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. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 24 Iowa systems (1.3%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Ottumwa Water Works?
EPA lists Ottumwa 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. 4 of the 5 active systems in Wapello County (80%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Ottumwa 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 January 2024. The violations listed here began between April 1990 and January 2024. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Carbon, totalcode 2920 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Carbon, totalcode 2920 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-03-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2003-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2003-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1990-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Bariumcode 1010 | No | Resolved |
| 1990-04-01 | 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.
Ottumwa Water Works: frequently asked questions
Who runs Ottumwa Water Works?
Ottumwa Water Works (PWSID IA9083012) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Ottumwa Water Works serve?
Ottumwa Water Works reports serving 25,529 people through 9,800 service connections in Wapello County, Iowa.
Where does Ottumwa Water Works get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Ottumwa 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 January 2024. 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 Ottumwa 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 January 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Ottumwa Water Works' water quality report?
As a community water system, Ottumwa 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 Wapello County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eldon Water Supply | Wapello | 927 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Agency Water Works | Wapello | 620 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Blakesburg Municipal Water Works | Wapello | 305 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Leisure Living Manf Home Community | Wapello | 150 | 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, “Ottumwa Water Works, PWSID IA9083012, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/ottumwa-water-works-ia9083012 (data as of October 1, 2026).