Polk County, Iowa — public water systems

How does Polk County compare with other Iowa counties?

Polk County has the 8th-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 488,556 people served in total, the largest county figure in the state and 16% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 12,857 people, about 7.5 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 Polk County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Polk County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (25, 66%), groundwater (10, 26%), purchased groundwater (2, 5.3%) and surface water (1, 2.6%). Overall, 32% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 68% on surface water, compared with 92% and 7.8% across Iowa. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, Des Moines Water Works, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Polk County?

Polk County's active systems break down as 37 community systems (97%) and 1 non-transient non-community systems (2.6%). 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 non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. EPA lists their owner types as private (55%), local government (42%) and state government (2.6%).