Public water system · IA7170040
ActiveSheldon Water Department
At a glance
Sheldon Water Department (PWSID IA7170040) is an active community water system in O'Brien County, Iowa. It reports serving 5,512 people through 2,305 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2006.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
5,512
Service connections
2,305
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Sheldon Water Department compare with other water systems in O'Brien County?
By EPA's size categories, Sheldon Water Department is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). O'Brien County has 7 active public water systems, and Sheldon Water Department is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 3.5 times the county average of 1,597 people per system, and accounts for 49% of the 11,182 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 Sheldon Water Department is about 18% 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 Sheldon Water Department?
EPA lists Sheldon 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. 7 of the 7 active systems in O'Brien County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Sheldon Water Department have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2006. The violations listed here began between July 1992 and August 2006. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 of them). EPA lists 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-03-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1997-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1992-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
All 4 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.
Sheldon Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Sheldon Water Department?
Sheldon Water Department (PWSID IA7170040) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Sheldon Water Department serve?
Sheldon Water Department reports serving 5,512 people through 2,305 service connections in O'Brien County, Iowa.
Where does Sheldon 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 Sheldon Water Department have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2006. 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 Sheldon 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. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2006. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Sheldon Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Sheldon 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 O'Brien County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartley Municipal Water Department | O'Brien | 1,605 | Community | Groundwater |
| Sanborn Water Supply | O'Brien | 1,392 | Community | Groundwater |
| Paullina Municipal Water Supply | O'Brien | 996 | Community | Groundwater |
| Primghar Municipal Water Supply | O'Brien | 902 | Community | Groundwater |
| Sutherland Water Supply | O'Brien | 629 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Calumet Water Supply | O'Brien | 146 | Community | Purchased 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, “Sheldon Water Department, PWSID IA7170040, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/sheldon-water-department-ia7170040 (data as of October 1, 2026).