By the Closer Look Inspectors team · Facts checked October 2026 against Iowa DNR, Iowa HHS, State Hygienic Laboratory and EPA sources · About our inspectors
Lead gets into Iowa drinking water from lead service lines, solder, brass faucets and fittings, and the plumbing in private well systems. You cannot see, taste or smell it, and EPA says testing is the only sure way to tell whether harmful amounts are in your drinking water.
All the water tests we offer
Bacteria
Shows whether surface water or waste is reaching the well.
- Surface contamination reaching the well
- Fecal contamination from septic, manure or wildlife
Health chemicals
No taste, color or smell. These are the long-term health checks.
- Fertilizer, septic and manure; highest risk to infants10 mg/L (EPA)
- Natural arsenic from rock and soil10 µg/L (EPA)
- Lead service lines, solder and brass fixtures
- ManganeseNatural manganese; a concern for infants
- FluorideNatural fluoride; dental health4.0 mg/L (EPA)
- UraniumNatural radionuclide in groundwater30 µg/L (EPA)
Petroleum & solvents
Fuel and chemical spills from old tanks or nearby sites.
Household quality
Staining, scale and taste, and choosing the right treatment.
- IronRusty staining and metallic taste
- HardnessScale buildup; sizing a water softenerNo health standard
- pHCorrosive or scaling water6.5 to 8.5, aesthetic (EPA)
- SulfateTaste and odor; diarrhea risk for infants250 mg/L, aesthetic (EPA)
Limits shown are EPA drinking water standards. Compare your lab results with these values.
Health standard: EPA health goal: zero. EPA action level for public water systems: 15 parts per billion (ppb), a trigger for utility action and not a safe level. Iowa DNR recommends private wells use the same 15 ppb action level and zero goal.
Where lead in drinking water comes from in Iowa
Lead gets into tap water when plumbing that contains lead corrodes. The service line is the underground pipe from the water main to a building's plumbing. In a home with a lead service line, EPA says that pipe is typically the biggest source of lead in the water. In Iowa, it is common for the property owner to own all or part of the service line. Congress banned lead pipes in 1986, with a June 19, 1988 compliance date, but let existing pipes stay. Iowa DNR expects the service line at a home built after 1988 to be made of something other than lead. Brass faucets and fittings and lead solder can leach lead into water, especially hot water. For private wells, Iowa DNR says most of the risk comes from plumbing components. CDC also lists leaded brass parts in older submersible pumps, and packer elements in wells 20 years old or older, as common sources in private wells.
Health effects and who is most at risk
EPA says there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Its health goal is zero because lead is a toxic metal that can harm health even at low exposure levels. Iowa DNR says pregnant women, infants and young children have the highest risks. Iowa HHS says lead is especially harmful to the developing brain and nervous system of children under 6. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to learning disabilities, impaired hearing, shorter stature and damage to the nervous system. Lead can cross the placenta. Iowa DNR lists reduced fetal growth and premature birth among the effects of exposure in pregnancy. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney or nervous system problems. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person's total exposure to lead. Infants who mostly drink mixed formula can get 40 to 60 percent of their exposure from water.
Signs and when to test
You cannot see, taste or smell lead dissolved in water. EPA says testing is the only sure way to tell whether harmful amounts are in your drinking water. Iowa HHS says most lead-poisoned children do not show any signs of the disease. Iowa DNR recommends that all private drinking water supplies be tested for lead. DNR's general advice is to test well water when a well is new and any time the well, pump or water system is serviced. Test again after a change in water treatment. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. On city water, utilities must notify customers served by a lead service line, certain galvanized lines, or a line of unknown material. Iowa sellers must now disclose the presence of a lead service line in real estate transactions, under a law that took effect January 1, 2026.
If your result is high: what to do next
Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Hot tap water can contain higher levels of lead, and boiling does not remove lead. The longer water sits in pipes, the more lead it may contain, so run the tap before drinking. EPA says how long depends on whether the home has a lead service line, so ask your water utility about flushing times. Clean faucet aerators. If you use a filter, choose one certified to remove lead, and do not run hot water through it. Replace plumbing fixtures that contain lead. If you have a lead service line, contact your water utility about its replacement program. For a private system above 15 ppb, Iowa DNR suggests another source of drinking water or treatment at the tap. It also suggests lowering the water's corrosivity and testing every 6 months. Talk with your health care provider about your risks.
Facts checked October 2026 against: iowadnr.gov, epa.gov, iowadnr.gov, epa.gov, hhs.iowa.gov, cdc.gov.
Iowa private well testing timeline
| Test | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform bacteria | ||||||
| Nitrate | ||||||
| Arsenic |
When to test your water
- Every yearColiform bacteria and nitrate, the basic safety checks for a private well.
- At least onceArsenic and manganese. Iowa DNR's testing list repeats arsenic every 3 years.
- Before a baby drinks the waterNitrate. Water above 10 mg/L as nitrogen should not be used for infant formula or juice.
- When you buy a homeA full baseline while you can still ask questions or negotiate.
- New well or well workWhen a well is new and after service on the well or pump.
- After a flood or power outageIf flood water was near or reached the well, or an outage dropped the water pressure.
- When taste, color or smell changesA change in the water is a reason to test.
- Near a fuel tankVOCs, plus DRO for diesel and fuel oil. Iowa DNR names gasoline among the VOCs some wells are susceptible to, and Iowa's well rules list 100 feet between a well and a liquid fuel storage tank other than propane.
- City water in an older homeLead. Iowa DNR says homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder.
Based on: Iowa DNR private wells, Iowa DNR testing frequency, Iowa DNR why test, Iowa DNR floods, State Hygienic Laboratory, 567 IAC 49.
How to get it done
- Choose your testsPick the water testing you need in the free instant quote.
- Pick a timeBook online. The quote takes about 30 seconds.
- Get certified lab resultsA certified laboratory analyzes the water and reports each result.
How far a well must be from common hazards in Iowa
- Property line4 ft
- Building sewer line10 ft
- LP gas tank15 ft
- Roadside ditch15 ft
- Stream, pond, lake or wetland25 ft
- Septic tank50 ft
- Septic absorption field100 ft
- Fuel oil or gasoline tank100 ft
- Fertilizer or chemical storage150 ft
Septic, feedlot or fuel tank near the well? A coliform and nitrate test shows whether it is reaching the water. Get a free instant quote
Buying a home with a well in Iowa: what happens at the sale
- Groundwater Hazard StatementIowa Code 558.69 requires a groundwater hazard statement filed with the declaration of value when a listed condition (including any known well and its status under 455B.190, or a private sewage disposal system) exists on the property, signed by a seller or agent, with a copy given to the buyer.
- Wells on the propertyIf known wells are on the property, the statement must give the approximate location of each and its status under Iowa Code 455B.190 (abandoned wells properly plugged); the owner is responsible for the accuracy of the information.
- Septic time-of-transfer inspectionIowa Code 455B.172(11) requires a private sewage disposal system serving a building to be inspected before any transfer of ownership, by a DNR-certified inspector, and the county recorder will not record the deed without the report or a binding acknowledgment.
- Failing systemsA system that is failing to treat wastewater must be renovated to current standards by the seller or, by agreement and within a reasonable time set by the county board of health or DNR, by the buyer (455B.172(11)(c)).
The paperwork tells you a well exists, not what is in it. Add water testing to your inspection. Get a free instant quote
Quick answers
Is there a safe level of lead in drinking water?
No. EPA says there is no safe level of lead in drinking water, and its health goal is zero. The 15 parts per billion action level is the trigger for required action by a public water system, not a level considered safe. Iowa DNR recommends the same action level and goal of zero for private wells.
How does lead get into private well water in Iowa?
Iowa DNR says most of the risk in private water systems comes from the plumbing components. Brass faucets and fittings and lead solder can leach lead, especially into hot water. CDC also lists leaded brass parts in older submersible pumps and packer elements in wells 20 years old or older. DNR recommends that all private drinking water supplies be tested for lead.
How can I find out if my Iowa home has a lead service line?
Ask your water utility. Iowa utilities must make their service line inventory publicly available, and owners of lead or unknown lines should have received a notice. Iowa DNR expects service lines at homes built after 1988 to be made of something other than lead. EPA says a licensed plumber may be able to help if the utility has no information.
Does boiling water remove lead?
No. EPA says boiling water does not remove lead. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula, because hot tap water can contain higher levels of lead. If you use a filter, EPA says to choose one certified to remove lead and not to run hot water through it.
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