Lang
6/17/25
The owners of an Iowa City mobile home park are warning its residents of high manganese levels in the drinking water.
Residents of the Lake Ridge manufactured housing community report finding cases of bottled water and a note at their front doors. The note read: “Lake Ridge Inc. has high levels of manganese. Do not give tap water to infants under six months old or use it to make infant formula.”
Manganese is an essential nutrient that can becomes dangerous when consumed at high levels. Ingesting too much manganese can lead to learning and behavior issues for children and memory loss, diminished motor skills and fuzzy thinking in adults.
Lake Ridge’s owners, Havenpark, had a similar issue with manganese levels in December, when a valve broke in the park’s water supply chain. All of the valves were replaced in response.
Johnson County Residents United, a group made up of residents of Havenpark’s various local mobile home parks, had already scheduled a Wednesday news conference to discuss their expectations for safety, maintenance, and keeping rent at a reasonable rate. That news conference is set for noon Wednesday at Sunrise Village on Scott Boulevard.