Public water system · IA7470099
ActiveWest Bend Water Department
At a glance
West Bend Water Department (PWSID IA7470099) is an active community water system in Palo Alto County, Iowa. It reports serving 772 people through 426 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 1994.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
772
Service connections
426
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does West Bend Water Department compare with other water systems in Palo Alto County?
By EPA's size categories, West Bend Water Department is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Palo Alto County has 8 active public water systems, and West Bend Water Department is the 5th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 60% below the county average of 1,944 people per system, and accounts for 5% of the 15,555 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 West Bend 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 West Bend Water Department?
EPA lists West Bend 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. 6 of the 8 active systems in Palo Alto County (75%) are also owned by a local government.
Does West Bend Water Department have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 1994. The violations listed here began between October 1979 and August 1994. By type: 6 contaminant level above the legal limit and 2 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Combined Radium (-226 and -228) (7 of them). EPA lists 6 as archived and 2 as resolved. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1985-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Archived |
| 1985-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | No | Archived |
| 1984-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Archived |
| 1983-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Archived |
| 1981-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Archived |
| 1980-08-28 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Archived |
| 1979-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Resolved |
All 8 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.
West Bend Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs West Bend Water Department?
West Bend Water Department (PWSID IA7470099) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does West Bend Water Department serve?
West Bend Water Department reports serving 772 people through 426 service connections in Palo Alto County, Iowa.
Where does West Bend 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 West Bend Water Department have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 1994. 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 West Bend 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 8 violations for this system; 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 1994. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find West Bend Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, West Bend 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 Palo Alto County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Lakes Regional Water - Osgood | Palo Alto | 9,021 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Emmetsburg Municipal Water Department | Palo Alto | 3,733 | Community | Groundwater |
| Graettinger Municipal Water Supply | Palo Alto | 897 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ruthven Water Supply | Palo Alto | 779 | Community | Groundwater |
| Mallard Water Supply | Palo Alto | 257 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Daybreak Foods Inc. | Palo Alto | 65 | Non-transient non-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, “West Bend Water Department, PWSID IA7470099, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/west-bend-water-department-ia7470099 (data as of October 1, 2026).