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Dubuque, IA Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Dubuque, IA — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Dubuque's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Dubuque Water Works PWSID: IA3126052 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 5.00 ppb, 33% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS was detected below the federal limit.

A

Dubuque earns an A for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 5.00 ppb — 33% of the federal action level
PFAS detected below the federal limit
No violations since 2015
No violations currently open
Dubuque's lead level vs. all Iowa community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 5.00 ppb — 33% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 17% of Iowa utilities
Population Served
59541
~23954 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
None on record since 2015

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
33% of EPA action level
5.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 5.00 ppb, 33% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

✓ No violations on record for this water system.
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

No violations are on record for this system since 2015. EPA records violations for every community water system, so this reflects a clean compliance history rather than missing data.

About the Main Water System

Utility Dubuque Water Works
PWSID IA3126052
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 59,541
Service connections 23,954
Systems serving this area 5
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dubuque tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 5.00 ppb, 33% of the action level.
Does Dubuque water have PFAS? ▼
PFAS was detected but stayed below the federal limit.
Who supplies water to Dubuque? ▼
Dubuque Water Works (PWSID IA3126052), one of 5 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-01-23. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Dubuque Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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