Public water system · IA2171071
ActiveSpencer Municipal Water Utility
At a glance
Spencer Municipal Water Utility (PWSID IA2171071) is an active community water system in Clay County, Iowa. It reports serving 11,325 people through 4,929 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 January 2014.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
11,325
Service connections
4,929
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Spencer Municipal Water Utility compare with other water systems in Clay County?
By EPA's size categories, Spencer Municipal Water Utility is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Clay County has 6 active public water systems, and Spencer Municipal Water Utility is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 3.5 times the county average of 3,227 people per system, and accounts for 58% of the 19,361 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 Spencer Municipal Water Utility is about 69% above 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 Spencer Municipal Water Utility?
EPA lists Spencer Municipal Water Utility 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. 5 of the 6 active systems in Clay County (83%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Spencer Municipal Water Utility have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2014. The violations listed here began between July 2000 and January 2014. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | 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.
Spencer Municipal Water Utility: frequently asked questions
Who runs Spencer Municipal Water Utility?
Spencer Municipal Water Utility (PWSID IA2171071) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Spencer Municipal Water Utility serve?
Spencer Municipal Water Utility reports serving 11,325 people through 4,929 service connections in Clay County, Iowa.
Where does Spencer Municipal Water Utility 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 Spencer Municipal Water Utility have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2014. 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 Spencer Municipal Water Utility'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 January 2014. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Spencer Municipal Water Utility's water quality report?
As a community water system, Spencer Municipal Water Utility 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 Clay County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Lakes Regional Water | Clay + 1 more | 6,755 | Community | Groundwater |
| Everly Water Supply | Clay | 575 | Community | Groundwater |
| Peterson Municipal Water Supply | Clay | 322 | Community | Groundwater |
| Fostoria Municipal Water Supply | Clay | 233 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Dickens Water Works | Clay | 151 | 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, “Spencer Municipal Water Utility, PWSID IA2171071, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/spencer-municipal-water-utility-ia2171071 (data as of October 1, 2026).