What Does a Small Town Do When the Water Is Undrinkable?

Residents of Early, Iowa (population 587) say they often find out their water is unsafe to drink by reading about it on Facebook.

On January 27, 2025, the town advised residents that nitrate levels were too high in the tap water and it was unsafe to drink. They noted to especially avoid using the water to mix formula for babies under six months of age. Exposure to too much nitrate can produce the disease methemoglobinemia, which can be fatal in young children — even in concentrations less than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit — and is associated with increased cancer risks.

Two months later, the situation was unresolved. In March, water coming out of faucets in Early contained 11.3 milligrams per liter of nitrate, 1.3 mg/L above the EPA limit for safe drinking water. The town was “working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve the situation,” the notice said.

In April, the city’s water still violated the maximum nitrate levels. One resident, who said he has lived in Early since 2017, commented on one of the town’s Facebook posts that this happens every summer.