Ciww (Grimes)
What EPA’s and Iowa’s records show in this utility’s water: nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals, plus violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.
- Serves
- 25 people
- Connections
- 1
- Water source
- Groundwater
- Based in
- Grimes, IA
- County
- Polk
- Owner
- Local government
The short answer
1 result is above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic, above the health goal. No health-based violations on file since 2016.
What handles itWhat was found
Arsenic, fluoride and nitrate: Iowa’s own results, samples taken from June 11, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
Above the health goal1
Arsenic
Comes from the source
2.0ppb
Highest yearly average, 2026
Averaged by year, the highest was 2.0 ppb, in 2026: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. That is the only year on file.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
Below EPA’s limits2
Fluoride
Forms or is added in treatment
0.15ppm
Highest yearly average, 2025 to 2026
2026, one sample: 0.12 ppm
Averaged by year, the highest was 0.15 ppm, in 2025, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. In 2026, the latest year on file, its one sample was 0.12 ppm.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Fluoride Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Fluoride”
Nitrate
Comes from the source
0.28ppm
One sample
2026, one sample: 0.28 ppm
The highest sample, in 2026, was 0.28 ppm, below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. That is the only year on file, and its one sample was 0.28 ppm.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”
What handles it
A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”
- NSF/ANSI 53
Claim: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction
For: Arsenic
Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)
- NSF/ANSI 58
Claim: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction
For: Arsenic
Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)
At the tap, or for the whole house?
These come with the water itself, so a whole-house system certified for the same claims treats every tap and shower. A filter at the tap treats drinking water for much less. How whole-house systems compare.
Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing
Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money
Countertop reverse osmosis
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: Arsenic
Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis (AQ-SFRO2)
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: Arsenic
Brondell Capella RC250 Reverse Osmosis System
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: Arsenic
Violations since 2016
No health-based violations on file with EPA since 2016.
What this report can’t tell you
Everything else. Arsenic, fluoride and nitrate results here are Iowa’s own from 2025 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Ciww (Grimes)’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has the contaminants this page does not show.
Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.
What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.
Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; Iowa’s results run from June 11, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
Testing your own tap
No lab Iowa certifies is within 75 miles of the area Ciww (Grimes) serves on the state’s list. Some take samples by mail; the state’s page lists them all.
State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa: Through the Grants-to-Counties program, private well owners in participating counties can have their water tested for total coliform bacteria and nitrate. Start with the county sanitarian at your county health department. No cost in a participating county. The Grants-to-Counties Program, State Hygienic Lab at the University of Iowa.
All 36 certified labs for IowaSources
- EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, file of Oct. 15, 2026
- EPA SDWA bulk download (SDWIS federal data), 2026 Q3
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Water Supply Programs, results from Jan. 1, 2020 to Oct. 6, 2026, read Oct. 8, 2026
- Limits and goals: each contaminant’s page, with its EPA source.
- How this page is built: methodology.
PWSID IA7736015. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.
Towns it serves
Also in Polk County
- Des Moines Water Works246,055
- City of Ankeny76,207
- Rocklyn MHP103
- Ciww ( Polk City)25
- Ciww (Dmww)25
- Ciww (Wdmww)25
What to do next
- Read up on ArsenicWhat each one does to health, where it comes from, and the certification claim that addresses it.About Arsenic
- Get the utility’s own reportCiww (Grimes) must send you a water quality report every year. It covers contaminants this page does not show.How to read it
- Test your own tap for leadYour service line, solder and fixtures decide the lead at your faucet, not the utility’s average.Lead in your water: what to do
- Compare certified filtersWhat the filters certified for these results cost over five years, cartridges included.Compare five-year costs