North Liberty Water Supply

GENERAL INFORMATION

Municipal water, including bottled varieties, may contain small amounts of various contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For detailed information about contaminants and potential health impacts, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Certain populations face higher vulnerability to water impurities than others. Those with compromised immune systems (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, individuals with HIV/AIDS, elderly persons, and infants) may be particularly susceptible to infections. These individuals should consult healthcare providers about their water consumption. The EPA/CDC offers guidelines for reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

Elevated lead levels pose serious health concerns, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters tap water through materials in service lines and household plumbing. North Liberty Water Supply delivers high-quality water but cannot control plumbing component materials. When water sits unused for several hours, minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption. If concerned, consider testing your water. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

WATER SOURCE ASSESSMENT

This municipal supply draws water from sandstone and dolomite within the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer. This source has low contamination susceptibility due to natural protective characteristics of the aquifer and overlying materials. The Cambrian-Ordovician wells exhibit minimal vulnerability to surface contaminants such as leaking storage tanks, chemical spills, and fertilizer applications. A comprehensive evaluation of your water source is available through the Water Operator at 319-626-5719.

SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

North Liberty's state-of-the-art water treatment facility, utilizing reverse osmosis and nano-filtration technologies, came online in 2018. This advanced facility enhances water quality while drawing from the Jordan and Silurian aquifers. The new treatment process significantly reduces mineral content that affects taste and odor while not being harmful to health.

Residents with water softeners should adjust their settings to account for reduced water hardness levels, which have decreased from 10-12 grains per gallon to 5-6 grains per gallon. The new facility brings additional wells and raw water infrastructure online while replacing the previous plant built in 1977 and expanded in 2001.

Production capacity has nearly doubled from 1.6 million to 3 million gallons daily, designed to serve a population of 30,000. Current usage averages 1.4 million gallons daily with peak demand reaching 2.2 million gallons. The city invested approximately $20 million in these essential water system improvements.

The former facility has been repurposed as a water department workshop. Previous system enhancements included a 1-million-gallon water tower (2007) and a 39-million-gallon aquifer storage and recovery well to manage peak demand periods. As population growth (now exceeding 19,000) continued, additional infrastructure became necessary. Planning began with a 2014 pilot study, followed by construction in 2016. The facility design allows for future expansion to 6 million gallons daily capacity.

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