Polk County, IA

ZIP 50316

In ZIP 50316, 8 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Des Moines Water Works meets every EPA legal limit; 16 contaminants are above health goals, led by pfos at 1.2× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Des Moines TCE, 2.4 miles away (3 within 10 miles).
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Quality Manufacturing Corp - Urbandale (57%), mostly chromium.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 8.1 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 50316

• Superfund sites nearbyD to F
• Factories and industrial sitesF
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB to C
• Air qualityC to D
• Drinking water qualityC
• Pesticide useC to F
• Neighborhood health statusB to D
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsC to F
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsF

Based on 8 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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