Polk County, IA

ZIP 50312

In ZIP 50312, 7 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: West Des Moines Water Works meets every EPA legal limit; 12 contaminants are above health goals, led by lithium at 14× the USGS health-based screening level.
• Nearest Superfund site: Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination, 1.6 miles away (3 within 10 miles).
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Quality Manufacturing Corp - Urbandale (51%), mostly chromium.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 7.9 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 50312

• Superfund sites nearbyF
• Factories and industrial sitesC to D
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB to C
• Air qualityC to D
• Drinking water qualityC
• Pesticide useC to D
• Neighborhood health statusA to C
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsF
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsF

Based on 10 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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