Public water system · IA8355025
ActivePanama Water Works
At a glance
Panama Water Works (PWSID IA8355025) is an active community water system in Shelby County, Iowa. It reports serving 235 people through 129 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in June 1995.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
235
Service connections
129
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Panama Water Works compare with other water systems in Shelby County?
By EPA's size categories, Panama Water Works is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Shelby County has 8 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 976 people per system, and accounts for 3% of the 7,809 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 Panama Water Works 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. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 156 Iowa systems (8.5%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Panama Water Works?
EPA lists Panama 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. 8 of the 8 active systems in Shelby County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Panama Water Works have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in June 1995. The violations listed here began between May 1991 and June 1995. By type: 1 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (2 of them). EPA lists 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1991-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 2 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.
Panama Water Works: frequently asked questions
Who runs Panama Water Works?
Panama Water Works (PWSID IA8355025) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Panama Water Works serve?
Panama Water Works reports serving 235 people through 129 service connections in Shelby County, Iowa.
Where does Panama Water Works get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Panama Water Works have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in June 1995. 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 Panama 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. EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in June 1995. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Panama Water Works' water quality report?
As a community water system, Panama 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 Shelby County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan Municipal Utilities | Shelby | 5,067 | Community | Groundwater |
| Shelby Water Supply | Shelby | 727 | Community | Groundwater |
| Elk Horn Muni Water Works | Shelby | 631 | Community | Groundwater |
| Earling Water Supply | Shelby | 397 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Irwin Municipal Supply | Shelby | 313 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Defiance Water Department | Shelby | 250 | 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, “Panama Water Works, PWSID IA8355025, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/panama-water-works-ia8355025 (data as of October 1, 2026).