Public water system · IA1175056
ActiveSioux Rapids Water Department
At a glance
Sioux Rapids Water Department (PWSID IA1175056) is an active community water system in Buena Vista County, Iowa. It reports serving 932 people through 373 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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
932
Service connections
373
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Sioux Rapids Water Department compare with other water systems in Buena Vista County?
By EPA's size categories, Sioux Rapids Water Department is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Buena Vista County has 12 active public water systems, and Sioux Rapids Water Department is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 37% below the county average of 1,475 people per system, and accounts for 5.3% 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 Sioux Rapids 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 Sioux Rapids Water Department?
EPA lists Sioux Rapids 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 Sioux Rapids Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between April 1993 and October 2024. By type: 5 contaminant level above the legal limit, 3 monitoring and reporting, 2 monitoring and 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Nitrate (5 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved and 2 as unaddressed. 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. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2024-08-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2023-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-08-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | p-Dichlorobenzenecode 2969 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1994-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1994-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | 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.
Sioux Rapids Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Sioux Rapids Water Department?
Sioux Rapids Water Department (PWSID IA1175056) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Sioux Rapids Water Department serve?
Sioux Rapids Water Department reports serving 932 people through 373 service connections in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
Where does Sioux Rapids 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 Sioux Rapids Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 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 Sioux Rapids 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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 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 Sioux Rapids Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Sioux Rapids 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 |
| 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 |
| Marathon Light & Water Department | Buena Vista | 230 | 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, “Sioux Rapids Water Department, PWSID IA1175056, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/sioux-rapids-water-department-ia1175056 (data as of October 1, 2026).