Wapello County, IA

ZIP 52553

In ZIP 52553, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Ottumwa Water Works meets every EPA legal limit; 11 contaminants are above health goals, led by lithium at 3.3× the USGS health-based screening level.
• Nearest Superfund site: John Deere (ottumwa Works Landfills), 5.1 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Cargill Corn Milling (91%), mostly acrolein.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.8 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 136,301 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 52553

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

Based on 3 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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