Skip to content

City water profile

West Des Moines water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

421PPM

5 indexed ZIPs

Range 383–420.5 PPM

State comparison
140 PPM above
State hardness rank
#72 of 683
Matched utilities
4
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

West Des Moines has 5 published ZIP profiles across Dallas County and Madison County and Polk County. The indexed median is 421 PPM, compared with 281 PPM across Iowa.

Among the 683 Iowacities with an indexed median, West Des Moines ranks #72from highest to lowest. Across all 723 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 182to 834 PPM.

The 383–420.5 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label. 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 hard5 ZIPs

5 of 5 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
62.9 miles
Profiles with evidence
5/5

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 5

Observation window: Jan 6, 2016 to Jun 1, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in West Des Moines

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

50038

Very Hard

420.5 PPM

Nearest site
62.9 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

50061

Very Hard

383 PPM

Nearest site
66.1 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

50261

Very Hard

383 PPM

Nearest site
66.4 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

50265

Very Hard

420.5 PPM

Nearest site
61.5 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

50266

Very Hard

420.5 PPM

Nearest site
60.1 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

West Des Moines Water Works

PWSID IA7785007

Surface water
System population served
73,959
Last reported
Jun 17, 2026

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

Yes Western Village Llc

PWSID IA7785601

Surface water
System population served
670
Last reported
Jun 17, 2026

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

Southwest Polk Water Service, Inc.

PWSID IA7700802

Groundwater
System population served
393
Last reported
Jun 17, 2026

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

Ciww (wdmww)

PWSID IA7785009

Groundwater
System population served
25
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.

No violation records are included in the current lookback window.

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 West Des Moines

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 421 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.