Cedar Rapids, Iowa Water Outage Today
Live Cedar Rapids water outage reports, Cedar Rapids Utilities’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Cedar Rapids?
Drinking water in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is supplied by Cedar Rapids Utilities, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Iowa are regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
To report no water or a main break, call Cedar Rapids Utilities at 319-286-5930.
Cedar Rapids tap water system, by the numbers
The system behind most taps in Cedar Rapids is Cedar Rapids Water Department, which EPA records list as serving roughly 142,364 people. Customers know it as Cedar Rapids Utilities; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Cedar Rapids Water Department (IA5715093) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 142,364 through 54,796 service connections |
| Source of the water | Groundwater under the influence of surface water |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 6 surface intakes, 48 active wells, 2 treatment points, 16 storage tanks and reservoirs, 15 pump facilities |
| State regulator | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 10.5 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
What feeds the taps in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Water Department draws on a mix of sources, according to EPA records. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include J Avenue Plant #1 and Nw Plant #2. After treatment the water is held in 16 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 15 pump facilities; that storage is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
What this means in an outage. Check the notices from Cedar Rapids Utilities first; the cause of a service interruption depends on which source feeds your zone.
Why the water goes out in Cedar Rapids
Which failures hit Cedar Rapids hardest follows from its weather, its housing stock and how it is supplied.
- Freezing weather. Cedar Rapids sees about 141 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 56 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 30, 2019. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 16 days, ending January 7, 2018. Frost pushes into shallow service lines first. Mains follow when the ground heaves and thaws, which is why break counts climb a day or two after the temperature swings.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 44.4% of occupied homes in Cedar Rapids were built before 1970, against 35.5% nationally. Streets of that age tend to sit on cast iron and early steel mains that are near or past their design life, which is where most breaks start.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Linn County number 365 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on Alliant Energy run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 32 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Linn County from 2015 through 2026, and 5 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Floodwater can undercut pipe crossings, swamp pump stations and overload treatment plants, and a notice to boil water often follows when it enters the system.
- Digging and utility work. Street projects, fiber installation and excavation near buried pipe regularly cut mains in Cedar Rapids with no warning, usually on a day with perfectly ordinary weather.
- Planned shutoffs and a problem at one address. Valve replacements and new connections are announced ahead, often with door hangers. If neighbors have water, check your own shutoff valve, meter and pressure regulator before calling.
Cedar Rapids weather and water-main stress, 2015–2025
Main break season in Cedar Rapids runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 141.1 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 55.7 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 43.5 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 2.5 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.6 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 5 |
| Average annual precipitation | 34.2 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (45.6 in) |
| Driest year | 2023 (22.8 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 30, 2019 |
| Hottest day in the record | August 23, 2023 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 30.5 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 45.6 inches; the driest was 2023 with 22.8. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
A note on the numbers: they are modeled for the city center and averaged over eleven years, so they show how often Cedar Rapids sees each kind of weather, not what any one thermometer read on a given day.
Is Cedar Rapids water safe? Boil notices and EPA record
Since 2015, EPA's record for Cedar Rapids Water Department shows no health-based violations. It also lists 1 monitoring or reporting entry that is about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent entries, all monitoring or reporting:
- September 2017: A coliform bacteria testing violation It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Coliform bacteria testing | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Boil water notices in Cedar Rapids are precautions, not findings. When pressure drops, Cedar Rapids Utilities tells affected customers to boil water until two rounds of lab tests are clean, a process that normally takes 24 to 48 hours after service is restored, under oversight from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Lead service lines and old plumbing in Cedar Rapids
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Cedar Rapids Water Department is 1.6 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is well under it.
Highest result on file: 10.5 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
44.4% of occupied homes in Cedar Rapids were built before 1970, and lead service lines and solder stayed legal until the federal ban in 1986. After any outage that disturbs the pipes, run the cold tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, and ask Cedar Rapids Utilities about its lead service line inventory.
Restoration times for water outages in Cedar Rapids
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Cedar Rapids usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | A few hours inside a window announced in advance |
| Ordinary main break | About 4 to 8 hours after the crew is on site |
| Large or deep main | A day or two, sometimes three |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | As long as the outage itself, plus a few hours to refill tanks |
| Boil water notice after service returns | Until two clean rounds of samples, usually 1 to 2 days |
| Frozen service line or meter | Depends on thaw; a plumber is usually needed |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Ask Cedar Rapids Utilities for a restoration estimate when you report the outage; for large breaks it is normally posted and updated as the repair progresses.
How much water to keep on hand in Cedar Rapids
With about 2.3 people in the typical Cedar Rapids home, FEMA's one-gallon-per-person-per-day rule means 7 gallons covers three days and 32 gallons covers two weeks.
- A standard water heater is a ready-made 40-gallon reserve. Shut off its power or gas, open a hot tap somewhere in the house, and draw from the drain valve.
- Fill the bathtub and a few large pots as soon as you hear a break is likely; that water is for flushing and washing, not drinking.
How Cedar Rapids compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Cedar Rapids Water Department | 142,364 | Mixed | 0 | 10.5 |
| Davenport, IA | Iowa-American Wtr Co-Davenport | 147,720 | Surface | 0 | 2 |
| Des Moines, IA | Des Moines Water Works | 246,055 | Bought (surface) | 1 | 0 |
| Rockford, IL | Rockford | 147,051 | Ground | 0 | 14 |
| Madison, WI | Madison Water Utility | 272,000 | Ground | 1 | 3.2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Where to find official Cedar Rapids water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from Cedar Rapids Utilities, not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Cedar Rapids quick answers about water service
Who do I call about no water in Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids Utilities at 319-286-5930, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
What is the source of Cedar Rapids tap water?
A mix of sources supplies Cedar Rapids, according to EPA records for Cedar Rapids Water Department.
Can you drink the tap water in Cedar Rapids?
EPA lists no health-based violations for Cedar Rapids Water Department since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 1.6 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. After a boil water notice, follow it until the utility lifts it.
What time of year are Cedar Rapids water main breaks most common?
Winter, mostly. Cedar Rapids sees roughly 141 days a year at or below freezing, and the peak runs December through February. Expect breaks to cluster just after sharp temperature swings.
Why did the water pressure drop at my house in Cedar Rapids?
Check whether neighbors have the same problem. If they do, it is probably a main break, a pump problem or evening demand, and Cedar Rapids Utilities should hear about it. If not, the cause is likely inside your own plumbing.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in Cedar Rapids?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so Cedar Rapids Utilities cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the Iowa Department of Natural Resources sets the rules for that process.
How many gallons of emergency water does a Cedar Rapids family need?
Store at least three days of water, and two weeks if you can. With about 2.3 people in a typical Cedar Rapids home, that is roughly 7 and 32 gallons.
Does Cedar Rapids have lead pipes?
44.4% of occupied homes in Cedar Rapids were built before 1970, and lead service lines were not banned until 1986. Ask Cedar Rapids Utilities whether your service line is on its lead inventory, and use a filter certified for lead if you are unsure.
How do I check for water outages near me in Cedar Rapids?
We do not run a pipe map. The report count at the top of this page shows what other people in Cedar Rapids have reported in the last 24 hours. For the official picture, check Cedar Rapids Utilities for its outage page, alerts and social accounts.
More outage pages for Cedar Rapids and nearby
Other outage types in Cedar Rapids
Water Service Outages in cities near Cedar Rapids
- Iowa City, IA 25 mi · City of Iowa City Water Division
- Davenport, IA 64 mi · Iowa American Water
- Des Moines, IA 105 mi · Des Moines Water Works
- Rockford, IL 132 mi · Rockford Water Division
- Madison, WI 136 mi · Madison Water Utility
- Peoria, IL 140 mi · Illinois American Water
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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