Is tap water safe in Leon?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Leon, IA?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 191 ppm (11.2 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 50144?

At 191 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Leon water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

191PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 191–191 PPM

State comparison: 90 PPM below
State hardness rank: #680 of 683
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Leon has 1 published ZIP profile across Decatur County. The indexed median is 191 PPM, compared with 281 PPM across Iowa.

Among the 683 Iowacities with an indexed median, Leon ranks #680from 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.

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: 24 miles
Profiles with evidence: 1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 1Low: 0

Observation window: Jan 11, 2016 to Jul 28, 2025.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Leon

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

50144

Very Hard

191 PPM

Nearest site: 24 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Leon Water Supply

PWSID IA2742076

Surface water

System population served: 1,830
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.

Record	System	Period	Status
Surface Water Treatment Rule	IA2742076	Jul 1, 2023	Resolved · health-based
Surface Water Treatment Rule	IA2742076	Sep 1, 2022	Resolved · health-based
Surface Water Treatment Rule	IA2742076	Aug 1, 2022	Resolved · health-based
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	IA2742076	Feb 1, 2022	Resolved
TTHM	IA2742076	Feb 1, 2022	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

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

Continue comparing

Other Iowa communities

Garden Grove

Decatur County

191 PPM median

Lamoni

Decatur County

192 PPM median

Allerton

Wayne County

191 PPM median

Humeston

Wayne County

191 PPM median

Mystic

Appanoose County

191 PPM median

Seymour

Wayne County

191 PPM median

Search all 685 Iowa cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Leon

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 191 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.