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Is Des Moines Water Safe to Drink?
Des Moines Water Works · 2024 data · official source
This is the safety page for Des Moines — how hard the water is (and what that costs) lives on the Des Moines water hardness page · see how Des Moines compares across all of Iowa on the Iowa hardness guide · or browse every Iowa city by safety status on the Iowa water quality page.
Des Moines water meets all EPA legal limits. Each of the 12 tested contaminants below sits under its limit — most by a wide margin.
The one real caveat: lead and copper usually enter from a home's own plumbing, not the treated supply. If your home was built before the mid-1950s, older service lines and solder are the thing to check — not the water coming out of the treatment plant.
Note: independent health group EWG flags 12 detected contaminant(s) as above its own much-stricter voluntary benchmark — shown in the table below as informational only, not a safety claim. Every one sits below the legal EPA limit.
Why it's safe
- ✓ Continuous monitoring — Des Moines Water Works tests the water around the clock for microbiological safety and routinely for chemical parameters.
- ✓ Regulated to EPA limits — enforced under EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.
- ✓ Disinfected — chlorine keeps the supply safe from bacteria from the treatment plant to your tap.
What's in Des Moines's water
Detected contaminants reported for Des Moines Water Works (EPA system ID IA7727031).
Source: EWG tap water database (Aug 2026).
Every detected contaminant is below the health limit. Some are still above EWG's stricter voluntary health benchmarks — common nationwide, shown below.
How to read this table: the legal limit (the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)) is the enforceable safety line — it's what regulators actually require. The EWG guideline column is a much stricter, voluntary health benchmark (often 100–1000× lower than the legal limit). Many contaminants sit below the legal limit but above the EWG line — that's common nationwide and means the water is still legally safe, not that it's dangerous.
| Contaminant | Typical level | EPA legal limit | EWG guideline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bromodichloromethane | 15.8 ppb | unregulated | 0.06 ppb | Above EWG |
| Bromoform | 3.09 ppb | unregulated | 0.5 ppb | Above EWG |
| Chloroform | 25.1 ppb | unregulated | 0.4 ppb | Above EWG |
| Chromium (hexavalent) | 0.712 ppb | unregulated | 0.02 ppb | Above EWG |
| Dibromoacetic acid | 2.81 ppb | unregulated | 0.03 ppb | Above EWG |
| Dibromochloromethane | 10.9 ppb | unregulated | 0.1 ppb | Above EWG |
| Dichloroacetic acid | 6.59 ppb | unregulated | 0.2 ppb | Above EWG |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 10.1 ppb | 60 ppb | 0.1 ppb | Below limit |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) | 12.7 ppb | unregulated | 0.06 ppb | Above EWG |
| Nitrate | 1.72 ppm | 10 ppm | 0.14 ppm | Below limit |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | 55.4 ppb | 80 ppb | 0.15 ppb | Below limit |
| Trichloroacetic acid | 0.76 ppb | unregulated | 0.1 ppb | Above EWG |
Levels are system-wide utility averages. The legal limit is the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). EWG also flags 12 contaminant(s) as exceeding its own stricter (non-legal) health guideline — shown as an informational note only, not a safety claim.
Not sure what these levels mean for your health? Read our complete contaminants guide — what's detected vs. what matters, and how to read the numbers.
What actually matters in Des Moines's water
Most of the numbers in the table are below the legal limit and aren't worth your worry. Here's the honest read on the ones people actually ask about in Des Moines:
Why the limit exists: The limit protects infants from "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia). Infants under six months convert nitrate to nitrite and lack the enzyme to reverse it, so their blood can't carry oxygen. Cases occur above 10 mg/L, not at or below.
Who it matters most for: Infants under 6 months (especially formula-fed).
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Trihalomethanes are disinfection byproducts. Long-term exposure above the limit is associated with liver, kidney, and central nervous system problems plus an increased risk of cancer (most consistently bladder). The limit is a deliberate trade-off: you can't remove them without abandoning disinfection, which would risk far worse microbial disease.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Haloacetic acids are disinfection byproducts associated with an increased risk of cancer at sustained elevated exposure. Same trade-off as TTHMs — the limit balances cancer risk against the necessity of disinfection.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Chromium-6 (the hexavalent form) is a known carcinogen when inhaled and is associated with stomach and intestinal tumors in drinking-water studies; the total-chromium MCL covers all forms. The basis is allergic dermatitis plus the cancer concern from the hexavalent form.
Source: EPA MCL
Why the limit exists: Trihalomethanes are disinfection byproducts. Long-term exposure above the limit is associated with liver, kidney, and central nervous system problems plus an increased risk of cancer (most consistently bladder). The limit is a deliberate trade-off: you can't remove them without abandoning disinfection, which would risk far worse microbial disease.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Trihalomethanes are disinfection byproducts. Long-term exposure above the limit is associated with liver, kidney, and central nervous system problems plus an increased risk of cancer (most consistently bladder). The limit is a deliberate trade-off: you can't remove them without abandoning disinfection, which would risk far worse microbial disease.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Trihalomethanes are disinfection byproducts. Long-term exposure above the limit is associated with liver, kidney, and central nervous system problems plus an increased risk of cancer (most consistently bladder). The limit is a deliberate trade-off: you can't remove them without abandoning disinfection, which would risk far worse microbial disease.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Haloacetic acids are disinfection byproducts associated with an increased risk of cancer at sustained elevated exposure. Same trade-off as TTHMs — the limit balances cancer risk against the necessity of disinfection.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Trihalomethanes are disinfection byproducts. Long-term exposure above the limit is associated with liver, kidney, and central nervous system problems plus an increased risk of cancer (most consistently bladder). The limit is a deliberate trade-off: you can't remove them without abandoning disinfection, which would risk far worse microbial disease.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Haloacetic acids are disinfection byproducts associated with an increased risk of cancer at sustained elevated exposure. Same trade-off as TTHMs — the limit balances cancer risk against the necessity of disinfection.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Haloacetic acids are disinfection byproducts associated with an increased risk of cancer at sustained elevated exposure. Same trade-off as TTHMs — the limit balances cancer risk against the necessity of disinfection.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Why the limit exists: Haloacetic acids are disinfection byproducts associated with an increased risk of cancer at sustained elevated exposure. Same trade-off as TTHMs — the limit balances cancer risk against the necessity of disinfection.
Source: EPA MCL / HC MAC
Where Des Moines's water comes from — and how it's treated
Raccoon River + Des Moines River
Like every U.S. municipal supply, Des Moines's water is disinfected and monitored against EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, published annually in the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). If you want to read the raw report for yourself, our how to read your water quality report guide walks you through it line by line.
"My Des Moines water tastes or smells like chlorine — is it still safe?"
Yes. A chlorine taste or smell doesn't mean the water is unsafe — it's the residual disinfectant doing its job (preventing bacteria from re-growing between the treatment plant and your tap). Seasonal changes, disinfection byproducts, or your own plumbing can all shift taste without affecting safety. If the taste bothers you, a simple activated-carbon pitcher filter removes it without any safety concern — the water was already safe before you filtered it.
Water quality vs. water hardness — don't confuse the two
"Water quality" (is it safe to drink) and "water hardness" (how much scale it leaves) are entirely different things — and confusing them leads to bad purchases. Des Moines's water is hard (7 GPG), which has no bearing on its safety — hardness is a cosmetic and appliance concern, not a health one. For what that hardness costs you in scale, appliance wear, and water-heater efficiency, see the Des Moines water hardness page.
If contaminants concern you — add a drinking-water filter
Should you filter Des Moines's water?
The softener handles hardness; a drinking-water filter removes Chromium-6 and removes Nitrate — if Des Moines's reported levels concern you. EPA / NTP: Chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) is a known carcinogen when inhaled and is linked to stomach and intestinal tumors in drinking-water studies. EPA: Nitrate (above 10 mg/L as nitrogen) can cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) in infants and is associated with certain cancers at sustained exposure. For a full breakdown of what each filter type removes, see best whole-house water filters.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. This doesn't affect our recommendations. Full disclosure.
When to call a professional
Des Moines's water meets every legal limit, so there's nothing that requires a pro — but clean, good-tasting water is always worth a little peace of mind, and your home's plumbing is its own variable. The clearest reason to call a licensed plumber: if your home was built before the mid-1950s and may still have lead service lines or solder — the lead risk lives in your pipes, not the city's water. Beyond that, a professional can test your tap (not just the city-wide report) and tell you honestly whether any treatment would actually improve what your household drinks.
Certified, independent results come from a state/province-licensed lab, not a company with a sales incentive — ask for a lab that reports to the EPA or your state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Des Moines tap water safe to drink?
Yes. Des Moines's municipal water meets all EPA legal limits — every detected contaminant is below the limit. Lead is the main thing to watch, and it usually comes from a home's own plumbing, not the treated supply.
Who tests Des Moines's water, and how often?
Des Moines Water Works is required by the EPA to test and publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), linked on this page.
Where does Des Moines drinking water come from?
Raccoon River + Des Moines River
Should I filter Des Moines's tap water?
For most people, no — the water already meets all legal limits. A filter is worth considering only if you're on older plumbing (lead/copper), have a compromised immune system, or dislike the taste/chlorine.
Is Des Moines water hard?
Des Moines water is hard at 7 GPG (120 ppm). Hardness is separate from safety — it affects scale and appliances, not health. See the Des Moines water hardness page for the full picture.
Sources & method
All contaminant levels are drawn from official, published data — EWG tap water database (Aug 2026) (source). We cite the legal limit for each contaminant so you never see a bare scare number.
- · Des Moines Water Works — water-quality report we reviewed
- · USGS — Water Hardness
- · EPA — Drinking Water Regulations
- · CDC — Drinking Water
- · EWG — Tap Water Database
- · Our complete contaminants guide (what's detected vs. what matters, how limits are set)
- · How to read your water quality report — line by line
Compare Des Moines to Other Iowa Cities
How Des Moines's water quality stacks up against nearby cities — same Iowa data, same legal limits.
Other Safe-to-Drink Water Cities
Des Moines is one of many cities whose water meets every health limit. Here are a few more to compare.
Explore More
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💧 Water treatment pros: this page is yours to share
This page helps customers understand what's in their water and whether they need a filter — so they can weigh whether service is worth it. We recommend sharing this page along with our complete contaminants guide in your next quote or follow-up to fully explain the value of your services.