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City water profile

Defiance water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Defiance, Iowa.

Median indexed hardness

345PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 345–345 PPM

State comparison
64 PPM above
State hardness rank
#167 of 683
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Defiance has 1 published ZIP profile across Shelby County. The indexed median is 345 PPM, compared with 281 PPM across Iowa.

Among the 683 Iowacities with an indexed median, Defiance ranks #167from highest to lowest. Across all 723 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 182to 834 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard1 ZIP

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
41.9 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 1

Observation window: Aug 11, 2016 to May 27, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Defiance

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

51527

Very Hard

345 PPM

Nearest site
41.9 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Defiance Water Department

PWSID IA8315018

Groundwater
System population served
250
Last reported
Jun 17, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Revised Total Coliform RuleIA8315018May 1, 2024Resolved
Lead and Copper RuleIA8315018Dec 1, 2023Resolved
Consumer Confidence RuleIA8315018Jul 1, 2022Resolved
Revised Total Coliform RuleIA8315018Jan 1, 2021Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Defiance

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 345 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.