Sioux City, Iowa Water Outage Today
Live Sioux City water outage reports, City of Sioux City Utilities’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Sioux City, Iowa in the last 24 hours
The most recent water outage report from Sioux City came in 5 days ago.
Who supplies water in Sioux City?
Drinking water in Sioux City, Iowa is supplied by City of Sioux City 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 City of Sioux City Utilities at 712-279-6150.
Sioux City tap water system, by the numbers
Sioux City Water Supply is the water system EPA lists for Sioux City, serving about 85,791 people. Customers know it as City of Sioux City Utilities; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Sioux City Water Supply (IA9778054) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 85,791 through 29,424 service connections |
| Source of the water | Groundwater under the influence of surface water |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 3 surface intakes, 8 active wells, 2 treatment points, 12 storage tanks and reservoirs, 8 pump facilities |
| State regulator | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 5 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 5 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Source water and treatment in Sioux City
Sioux City Water Supply draws on a mix of sources, according to EPA records. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Southbridge Regional Plant. After treatment the water is held in 12 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 8 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 City of Sioux City Utilities first; the cause of a service interruption depends on which source feeds your zone.
Why the water goes out in Sioux City
These are the causes that match the record for Sioux City, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Sioux City sees about 144 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 61 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 14, 2024. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 33 days, ending March 8, 2019. Frozen service lines and meters cause single-address outages, while ground frost and thaw cycles crack older mains and produce the street-wide breaks.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 65.2% of occupied homes in Sioux City 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.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 39 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Woodbury 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.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Woodbury County number 190 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.
- Scheduled work, or a fault inside your own home. Utilities warn customers before a planned shutoff. If nothing was announced and the neighbors are fine, the cause is probably your shutoff valve, meter or pressure regulator.
Sioux City weather and water-main stress, 2015–2025
Main break season in Sioux City 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 | 143.5 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 61.3 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 45.1 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 9.6 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 2.8 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 4.5 |
| Average annual precipitation | 28.7 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (38.4 in) |
| Driest year | 2022 (16.9 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 14, 2024 |
| Hottest day in the record | August 2, 2022 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 30.8 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 38.4 inches; the driest was 2022 with 16.9. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
Because this is gridded reanalysis data, individual hot and cold days can read a few degrees off what the airport recorded. The day counts and yearly patterns are the useful part.
Is Sioux City water safe? Boil notices and EPA record
EPA lists 5 health-based violations for Sioux City Water Supply since 2015, which is more than most systems of its size. It also lists 2 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent health-based entries:
- October 2019: Drinking water above the legal limit for total trihalomethanes It is marked resolved.
- July 2019: Drinking water above the legal limit for total trihalomethanes It is marked resolved.
- March 2017: A treatment technique violation It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical and radiological contaminants | 3 | 0 |
| Disinfection byproducts | 2 | 2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
When Sioux City loses pressure after a break or a failed test, City of Sioux City Utilities asks affected customers to boil water for drinking and cooking. The notice ends only after samples come back clean, which usually takes one to two days after service returns, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources supervises the process.
Lead service lines and old plumbing in Sioux City
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Sioux City Water Supply is 2 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is well under it.
Highest result on file: 5 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
65.2% of occupied homes in Sioux City 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 City of Sioux City Utilities about its lead service line inventory.
How long a water outage lasts in Sioux City
Most repairs of an ordinary main break in Sioux City take half a day once the crew is on site. Bigger mains, deep bury and busy roads stretch that to a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | About 4 to 8 hours after the crew is on site |
| Large or deep main | One to three days, longer if parts must be ordered |
| 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 | One to two days while samples are tested |
| Frozen service line or meter | Depends on thaw; a plumber is usually needed |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Ask City of Sioux City Utilities for a restoration estimate when you report the outage; for large breaks it is normally posted and updated as the repair progresses.
Emergency water storage for Sioux City households
The average household in Sioux City has about 2.6 people, so FEMA's minimum of one gallon per person per day comes to roughly 8 gallons for three days and 37 gallons for two weeks.
- Do not forget the water heater: the tank holds roughly 30 to 50 gallons you can drink after it is switched off and allowed to cool.
- 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 Sioux City compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA | Sioux City Water Supply | 85,791 | Mixed | 5 | 5 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | Sioux Falls | 216,462 | Surface | 0 | 3 |
| Omaha, NE | Metropolitan Utilities District | 660,000 | Surface | 0 | 12.3 |
| Lincoln, NE | City of Lincoln | 296,000 | Mixed | 0 | 4.5 |
| Grand Island, NE | City of Grand Island | 51,478 | Ground | 2 | 2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Sioux Falls, SD · Omaha, NE · Lincoln, NE · Grand Island, NE
Sioux City boil water notices and main breaks
City of Sioux City Utilities posts Sioux City boil water notices, main breaks and planned shutoffs on its own site and alerts. What a notice requires: water outage guide.
Sioux City frequently asked water questions
Who do I call about no water in Sioux City?
City of Sioux City Utilities at 712-279-6150, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does Sioux City get its water?
Per EPA, the water system for Sioux City (Sioux City Water Supply) is classed as a mix of sources.
Is Sioux City tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists 5 health-based violations for Sioux City Water Supply since 2015, most recently drinking water above the legal limit for total trihalomethanes in October 2019, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 2 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
When do water mains break most in Sioux City?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Sioux City, which averages about 144 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 did the water pressure drop at my house in Sioux City?
Low pressure often comes from a nearby main break, heavy demand on a hot evening, or a failed pressure regulator at your own home. If neighbors are affected too, report it to City of Sioux City Utilities; if only your home is, check the regulator and shutoff valve.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in Sioux City?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so City of Sioux City Utilities cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the Iowa Department of Natural Resources sets the rules for that process.
How much drinking water should I keep at home in Sioux City?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average Sioux City household has about 2.6 people, which works out to roughly 8 gallons for three days and 37 for two weeks.
Does Sioux City have lead pipes?
Lead pipe was legal until 1986, and 65.2% of occupied homes in Sioux City predate 1970, so it is possible in older neighborhoods. City of Sioux City Utilities can tell you what your service line is made of; a lead-certified filter is a sensible precaution if you are unsure.
How do I check for water outages near me in Sioux City?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of Sioux City have sent in over the last day, and City of Sioux City Utilities has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
Recent water reports in Sioux City
- Water reports in Sioux City, last 24h
- 0
- Most recent water report here
- 5 days ago
- Water reports across Iowa, last 24h
- 0
- City population
- 85,128
Other outage types in Sioux City
Water Service Outages in cities near Sioux City
- Sioux Falls, SD 74 mi · Sioux Falls Utilities
- Omaha, NE 89 mi · Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.)
- Bellevue, NE 98 mi · Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.)
- Lincoln, NE 118 mi · Lincoln Water System
- Grand Island, NE 148 mi · Grand Island Utilities
- Des Moines, IA 156 mi · Des Moines Water Works
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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