Des Moines, Iowa Water Outage Today
Live Des Moines water outage reports, Des Moines Water Works’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Des Moines, Iowa in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Des Moines?
Drinking water in Des Moines, Iowa is supplied by Des Moines Water Works, 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 Des Moines Water Works at 515-283-8700.
Des Moines water system at a glance
The system behind most taps in Des Moines is Des Moines Water Works, which EPA records list as serving roughly 246,055 people.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Des Moines Water Works (IA7727031) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 246,055 through 94,000 service connections |
| Source of the water | Purchased surface water |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 3 treatment points, 7 storage tanks and reservoirs, 9 pump facilities |
| Connections to other systems | 1 |
| State regulator | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 1 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 0 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Source water and treatment in Des Moines
Des Moines does not collect its own raw water. Des Moines Water Works buys surface water from Ciww (Dmww) and distributes it through its own mains. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Treatment Plant- North (Former Se Polk). After treatment the water is held in 7 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 9 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. Problems can start outside the city: if Ciww (Dmww) has to shut a main or its plant, Des Moines can run short even though nothing is wrong with the local pipes. Follow alerts from the supplier and from Des Moines Water Works.
Main breaks and shutoffs in Des Moines: the usual causes
These are the causes that match the record for Des Moines, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Des Moines sees about 135 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 52 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 6, 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.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 349 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Polk County from 2015 through 2026, and 4 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Flooding is hard on water systems in three ways: it erodes soil around pipe crossings, drowns pumps and electrical equipment, and can let contaminated runoff into the mains, which triggers precautionary boil notices.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 58.5% of occupied homes in Des Moines 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 Polk County number 397 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on MidAmerican Energy run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Construction and third-party damage. A backhoe or boring crew that hits a main is among the most common reasons a single block goes dry without warning. Utilities handle those the same way as any break: isolate, repair, flush.
- One-address problems. A closed valve, a meter swap or a failed regulator can leave a single house dry. Compare notes with a neighbor first; if they have water too, start with your own plumbing.
How weather strains the Des Moines water system
Main break season in Des Moines 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 | 135.3 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 51.6 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 38.4 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 6.5 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.9 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 4.5 |
| Average annual precipitation | 32.8 in |
| Wettest year | 2015 (44.2 in) |
| Driest year | 2023 (24.8 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 30, 2019 |
| Hottest day in the record | August 6, 2022 |
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 2015 with 44.2 inches; the driest was 2023 with 24.8. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The figures are reanalysis estimates for the center of Des Moines, not readings from a single weather station, so treat them as a guide to how often each kind of weather occurs rather than as official records.
Is Des Moines water safe? Boil notices and EPA record
EPA lists 1 health-based violation for Des Moines Water Works since 2015. 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 health-based entries:
- May 2017: A treatment technique violation under the surface water treatment rules It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Surface water treatment and turbidity | 1 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
A boil water notice in Des Moines is a separate thing from a violation. Des Moines Water Works issues one when pressure falls low enough for contamination to enter the pipes, after a main break is repaired, or when a routine test comes back positive. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources oversees the process, and the notice stays until clean samples come back, usually a day or two after pressure returns.
Lead, older pipes and water quality in Des Moines
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Des Moines Water Works is 0 ppb (2024). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is comfortably below it.
Highest result on file: 0 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
58.5% of occupied homes in Des Moines 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 Des Moines Water Works about its lead service line inventory.
How long a water outage lasts in Des Moines
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Des Moines 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 | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | Roughly 4 to 8 working hours |
| 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.
Des Moines Water Works will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
Emergency water storage for Des Moines households
Census figures put the typical Des Moines household at about 2.4 people. At one gallon per person per day that is 7 gallons for three days or 33 gallons for a two-week supply.
- 18.8% of homes are in buildings with 20 or more units. Upper floors lose pressure first, and rooftop tanks and booster pumps depend on building power.
- Your water heater tank holds 30 to 50 gallons of clean water. Turn off the power or gas to it first, then drain from the valve at the bottom.
- If a planned shutoff or storm is coming, fill the tub and some buckets for flushing toilets and washing; keep drinking water in clean sealed containers.
How Des Moines compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | Des Moines Water Works | 246,055 | Bought (surface) | 1 | 0 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Cedar Rapids Water Department | 142,364 | Mixed | 0 | 10.5 |
| Omaha, NE | Metropolitan Utilities District | 660,000 | Surface | 0 | 12.3 |
| Sioux City, IA | Sioux City Water Supply | 85,791 | Mixed | 5 | 5 |
| Davenport, IA | Iowa-American Wtr Co-Davenport | 147,720 | Surface | 0 | 2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Cedar Rapids, IA · Omaha, NE · Sioux City, IA · Davenport, IA
Staying informed about water service in Des Moines
Sign up for alerts from Des Moines Water Works and check its website or social accounts when the water goes off. If a boil advisory is issued, the water outage guide covers how to treat water and when it is safe again.
Des Moines frequently asked water questions
Who do I call about no water in Des Moines?
Des Moines Water Works at 515-283-8700, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Is Des Moines water from a river, lake or well?
EPA records for Des Moines Water Works say Des Moines relies on purchased surface water. It buys from Ciww (Dmww).
Can you drink the tap water in Des Moines?
EPA lists 1 health-based violation for Des Moines Water Works since 2015, most recently a treatment technique violation under the surface water treatment rules in May 2017, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 0 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. Follow any boil water notice until the utility says it is over.
When do water mains break most in Des Moines?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Des Moines, which averages about 135 freezing days a year. Expect the most calls from December through February, especially a day or two after a hard freeze when the ground thaws.
Why is my water pressure low in Des Moines?
Check whether neighbors have the same problem. If they do, it is probably a main break, a pump problem or evening demand, and Des Moines Water Works should hear about it. If not, the cause is likely inside your own plumbing.
How long does a boil water notice last in Des Moines?
Usually 24 to 48 hours after pressure is restored. The utility has to collect samples, wait for the lab to confirm there is no bacteria, and then announce the all-clear. Des Moines Water Works posts notices and lifts them; the Iowa Department of Natural Resources oversees the process.
How many gallons of emergency water does a Des Moines family need?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average Des Moines household has about 2.4 people, which works out to roughly 7 gallons for three days and 33 for two weeks.
Are there lead service lines in Des Moines?
It depends on the age of your home. About 58.5% of occupied homes in Des Moines were built before 1970, and lead service lines remained legal until 1986. Contact Des Moines Water Works about your address and flush the cold tap after any outage.
Is there a water outage map for Des Moines?
This page shows resident reports from Des Moines for the last 24 hours. For a street-by-street picture, use the alerts and outage page of Des Moines Water Works; many utilities also text boil notices.
More outage pages for Des Moines and nearby
Other outage types in Des Moines
Water Service Outages in cities near Des Moines
- Cedar Rapids, IA 105 mi · Cedar Rapids Utilities
- Iowa City, IA 107 mi · City of Iowa City Water Division
- Omaha, NE 123 mi · Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.)
- Bellevue, NE 123 mi · Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.)
- Sioux City, IA 156 mi · City of Sioux City Utilities
- Davenport, IA 157 mi · Iowa American Water
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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