Iron in Iowa well water
In Iowa, iron was detected in 86% of 14,241 tested private well samples.
Iron is a nuisance rather than a health hazard: rust stains, metallic taste, and clogged fixtures above 300 ug/L. It often occurs with manganese and can feed iron bacteria that foul plumbing.
Check your iron number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Iowa well for iron
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
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Systems that remove iron
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Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For iron
Iron and manganese oxidizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,800
Air-injection or greensand media; fixes staining at the source.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for iron in Iowa: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit; counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet | no limit | 104 | 100% | 1,800 | 15,000 ug/L |
| Wayne | no limit | 34 | 100% | 710 | 47,200 ug/L |
| Decatur | no limit | 46 | 100% | 1,580 | 22,500 ug/L |
| Dickinson | no limit | 34 | 100% | 2,300 | 20,000 ug/L |
| Kossuth | no limit | 175 | 99% | 1,900 | 28,500 ug/L |
| Pocahontas | no limit | 82 | 99% | 1,750 | 16,000 ug/L |
| Mahaska | no limit | 76 | 99% | 1,350 | 50,000 ug/L |
| Greene | no limit | 150 | 99% | 2,600 | 30,000 ug/L |
| Winnebago | no limit | 70 | 99% | 1,280 | 12,000 ug/L |
| Wapello | no limit | 113 | 98% | 260 | 27,000 ug/L |
| Wright | no limit | 146 | 98% | 1,700 | 9,500 ug/L |
| Washington | no limit | 185 | 98% | 930 | 145,000 ug/L |
| Hancock | no limit | 132 | 98% | 1,200 | 9,300 ug/L |
| Monroe | no limit | 44 | 98% | 1,035 | 23,000 ug/L |
| Appanoose | no limit | 38 | 97% | 990 | 15,000 ug/L |
- Vinton, Benton County100% detected of 38
- Mount Pleasant, Henry County100% detected of 60
- West Branch township, Sioux County100% detected of 40
- Eagle Grove township, Wright County100% detected of 35
- Washington township, Story County100% detected of 40
- Springdale township, Cedar County100% detected of 34
- Estherville township, Emmet County100% detected of 53
- Hartford township, Iowa County100% detected of 41
- Algona, Kossuth County100% detected of 32
- Jackson township, Sac County100% detected of 30
- Clear Creek township, Johnson County100% detected of 31
- Hardin township, Hardin County100% detected of 51
- Ell township, Hancock County100% detected of 30
- Clinton, Clinton County100% detected of 51
- DeWitt township, Clinton County100% detected of 36
- Hayes township, Buena Vista County100% detected of 34
- Spring Valley township, Dallas County100% detected of 30
- Nishnabotny township, Crawford County100% detected of 30
- Vernon township, Humboldt County100% detected of 31
- Cherokee township, Cherokee County100% detected of 46
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. iron counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.