Water Quality | Iowa Regional Utilities Association

Dependable water is at the heart of everything Iowa Regional Utilities Association (IRUA) does. As a member-owned, not-for-profit rural water utility based in Newton, IRUA delivers water to more than 16,000 connections across all or portions of 18 Iowa counties. Whether you live on a farm, an acreage, or in one of the towns IRUA serves, here’s what you need to know about where your water comes from, how it’s treated, and how IRUA keeps it flowing to your tap every day.

Where Your Water Comes From

IRUA doesn’t rely on a single supply. Instead, IRUA purchases water from regional suppliers, including Newton and Marshalltown, under long-term contracts, and it operates its own reverse-osmosis treatment plant near Waverly. Having more than one source helps keep service steady across a large rural system.

Newton: Newton’s supply comes from a Jordan well and 21 shallow alluvial wells along the South Skunk River. The water is softened to about 7 grains of hardness before it reaches IRUA’s system.
Marshalltown: Marshalltown’s supply comes from the Mississippian aquifer and is softened using a lime soda-ash process.
IRUA’s Waverly plant: IRUA owns and operates a reverse-osmosis treatment plant near Waverly. The plant opened in 2009 and was built with room to expand its capacity.

A few smaller systems IRUA serves receive water from other regional suppliers. The source for each system is described in its yearly report, which you can find on the Water Quality Reports page.

How Your Water Is Treated

Water from each source is treated before it travels through IRUA’s pipes to your home, farm, or business. Here’s what that means for you day to day:

Softened water: IRUA delivers treated, softened water at about 6 to 8 grains of hardness. Most customers don’t need a home water softener.
Steady pressure: Typical water pressure on the system ranges from about 30 to 70 PSI.
Reverse osmosis at Waverly: Reverse osmosis is a filtration process that pushes water through very fine membranes. It’s the process IRUA uses to produce its own supply near Waverly.
Award-winning taste: Water from IRUA’s treatment plant has twice been named Best Tasting Water in Iowa.

How IRUA Keeps Your Water Dependable

Delivering water across a service area this large takes serious infrastructure and a team that keeps a close eye on it. According to IRUA’s 2025 Annual Report, the system includes:

More than 16,000 connections
About 4,770 miles of pipe
27 water towers
31 booster stations that help move water across the system

Beyond the pipes and towers, a few everyday practices help keep your service secure and reliable:

Monthly meter reading: Meters are read remotely by radio each month, which helps keep usage records and billing accurate.
Leak alerts: When a meter shows continuous flow, IRUA sends an automated notice so you can check for a possible leak on your property.
Prompt repairs: A typical repair takes about 3 to 4 hours. Afterward, IRUA flushes the line, and your water may look cloudy for a short time.
Around-the-clock service: IRUA provides service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calls outside office hours are answered by IRUA’s answering service.

To learn more about the counties and communities on the system, visit the Service Areas page.

Your Role in Dependable Service

IRUA takes care of the system up to the meter pit. A few simple habits on your side help everything run smoothly:

Know your service line: The property owner installs and maintains the service line from the meter pit to the home or building.
Act on leak alerts: If you receive a continuous-flow notice, check faucets, toilets, and lines on your property for running water as soon as you can.
Plan seasonal shutoffs ahead: If you need water turned off or back on at the meter pit, call to schedule at least 48 hours in advance. A $35.00 fee applies.
Keep contact details current: Up-to-date phone and email information means alerts reach you quickly.

A Member-Owned Commitment

IRUA is a private, not-for-profit association owned by its members. Your service agreement includes a membership that makes you a part-owner, and IRUA provides drinking water to its members at cost. A nine-member Board of Directors, representing geographic regions throughout the system, meets monthly to guide the Association. That structure keeps IRUA focused on its mission: “To provide quality, reliable water and other appropriate services to improve the quality of life of our members and enhance rural development.” Learn more about IRUA.

Staying Informed About Your Water

If something affects water service in your area, IRUA will let you know. Members are kept informed in several ways:

Automatic outage alerts: All customers are enrolled automatically using the contact details on their Membership Agreement. Alerts arrive by automated phone call, and by email if one is on file.
Text notifications: You can opt in to text alerts through the customer portal.
Recognizable numbers: Automated calls may come from a 1-800 number, 641-321-3646, or 641-792-7011. Save 641-321-3646 in your contacts so you’ll know it’s IRUA.
Mailings: When needed, IRUA also sends information by mail.

For current notices, visit News & Alerts. Please keep your phone number and email up to date so alerts reach you. If your contact details change, contact IRUA and we’ll update your account.

Annual Water Quality Reports

Every year, IRUA publishes water quality reports, also called Consumer Confidence Reports. Each report explains where the water comes from and shares results from the previous calendar year, so the reports published in 2026 cover 2025. IRUA also posts service line inventories for its systems, and a water analysis is available on request.

The Water Quality Reports page explains which systems each report covers, walks you through how to read one, and lists the available reports.

Common Questions

Do I need a water softener?

Most customers don’t. IRUA delivers treated, softened water at about 6 to 8 grains of hardness.

Why does my water look cloudy after a repair?

After a repair, IRUA flushes the lines to restore normal service. Flushing can leave your water cloudy for a short time. If cloudiness doesn’t clear, give us a call and we’ll help.

Which supplier provides my water?

It depends on where your property is located. IRUA’s main system draws on water purchased from regional suppliers, including Newton and Marshalltown, along with IRUA’s own Waverly plant, while a few smaller systems receive water from other regional suppliers. Your system’s yearly report names its sources.

Who is responsible for leaks on my property?

Anything past the meter pit is the property owner’s to repair. IRUA can’t repair private lines or check for leaks on private property, but IRUA’s automated leak alerts can help you spot continuous flow early so you can act quickly.

How can I learn more about my water?

Start with the yearly report for your system on the Water Quality Reports page. A water analysis is also available on request. You can find answers to other common questions on the FAQs page.