Polk County, IA

ZIP 50131

In ZIP 50131, 8 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Urbandale Water Utility meets every EPA legal limit; 11 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 88× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination, 6.6 miles away (3 within 10 miles).
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Quality Manufacturing Corp - Urbandale (80%), mostly chromium.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 7.8 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 174,059 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 50131

• Superfund sites nearbyA to D
• Factories and industrial sitesB to D
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyC to D
• Air qualityB to C
• Drinking water qualityC to F
• Pesticide useD to F
• Neighborhood health statusA to B
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsF
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsD

Based on 7 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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