CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — An independent study of tap water in five eastern Iowa communities found nitrate levels below the federal limit but above a threshold researchers say could pose health risks with long-term exposure.
The study examined water in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Waverly, Hudson and Cedar Rapids. Researchers collected samples over several months in 2026 and had them analyzed at a University of Iowa laboratory.
None of the samples exceeded the federal maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter. The report, however, points to more recent public health research linking long-term exposure at levels as low as 5 mg/L with increased risks of certain birth defects and cancers…