Is Independence, IA tap water safe?
The short answer
None of the 3 utilities serving Independence has a result above a legal limit or action level, or a health-based violation since 2016, in EPA’s and Iowa’s records.
Independence Water Dept, which serves the most people here, has 1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 7.1 ppb, above the health goal. Health goals are stricter than legal limits and are not enforced.
A town can be served by more than one utility, and some homes are on private wells. The name on your water bill tells you which is yours, and your ZIP code narrows it down. They are listed by how many people each serves in Independence’s ZIP codes, from EPA’s estimates.
- Open report
Independence Water Dept
Iowa · serves 6,064 people · about 270 in Independence
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 7.1 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Pints Water Association
Iowa · serves 96 people · under 100 in Independence
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 13.1 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
River Ridge HOA
Iowa · serves 60 people · lists Independence among the places it serves
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic at 4.7 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
What handles it
Each of these is certified, on a certifier’s listing, for a result above a line in Independence Water Dept’s water, which serves the most people here. Another utility’s report names what handles its own results.
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Brita Tahoe Pitcher with Elite Filter (OB60, OB06)
Pitcher
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 13, 2026
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 53checked Oct. 13, 2026
Certified for: Lead
Brita Everyday Pitcher with Elite Filter (OB46, OB06)
Pitcher
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 13, 2026
Certified for: Lead
PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher (PPT111W)
Pitcher
- NSF listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: Lead
Water testing near Independence
The 3 labs Iowa certifies closest to Independence, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.
Microbac Laboratories - Waterloo
Waterloo, IA · about 23 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate
Eurofins - Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls, IA · about 30 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, minerals and other inorganics
Linn County Public Health Department
Cedar Rapids, IA · about 37 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate
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 IowaZIP codes in Independence
Which ZIP codes are in Independence: Census 2020 relationship files. Which utilities serve them, and how many people: EPA SDWIS and EPA’s service area map. Each utility’s results: EPA UCMR 5, EPA SDWIS, and EPA’s and the state’s compliance monitoring, as its report lists them. How they are measured: methodology. Certified labs: Iowa DNR, laboratories certified for drinking water; distances from the Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation area gazetteer.
Near Independence
Towns nearby with a page of their own.
What to do next
- Read Independence Water Dept’s full reportEvery result with its dates, the violations, and the certification claim that handles each finding.Open the report
- Filters for LeadRanked by certification and what they cost over five years.The best water filters for lead, ranked
- On a private well?No utility tests a well. A certified lab test is the first step.How to test well water