South Dakota

Water quality data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System

Lead Risk: Caution

Water Systems

1,715

Active public water systems

Population Served

967.6K

Residents with piped water

Lead Violations

Systems exceeding 15 ppb

Copper Violations

Lead & Copper Rule

Average Lead Level

2.43 ppb

EPA Action Level: 15 ppb

MCLG (health goal): 0 ppb

0 ppbAction Level: 15 ppb

Average across 712 systems with reported lead data.

Violations Detected

64 water systems in South Dakota have reported violations under the Lead and Copper Rule. These utilities are required to notify customers and take corrective action.

4 lead violations60 copper violations

Water Systems: Highest Lead Levels

System Name	City	Population	Lead Level	Status	Sample Date
BROOKINGS MUNICIPAL UTILITIES	BROOKINGS	23,377	8.00 ppb	OK	2023-12-31
RAPID CITY	RAPID CITY	72,009	6.00 ppb	OK	2024-12-31
HURON	HURON	14,263	6.00 ppb	OK	2023-12-31
SIOUX FALLS	SIOUX FALLS	216,462	3.00 ppb	OK	2024-12-31
ABERDEEN	ABERDEEN	27,989	3.00 ppb	OK	2025-06-30
SPEARFISH	SPEARFISH	12,193	3.00 ppb	OK	2024-12-31
RAPID VALLEY SANITARY DISTRICT	RAPID CITY	11,408	3.00 ppb	OK	2024-12-31
WATERTOWN MUNICIPAL UTILITIES	WATERTOWN	23,230	2.00 ppb	OK	2024-12-31
WEB WATER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION	ABERDEEN	20,750	2.00 ppb	OK	2022-12-31
BOX ELDER	BOX ELDER	14,000	2.00 ppb	OK	2023-12-31
MITCHELL	MITCHELL	15,651	1.00 ppb	OK	2024-12-31
PIERRE	PIERRE	14,091	1.00 ppb	OK	2023-12-31
MINNEHAHA COMMUNITY WATER CORP	DELL RAPIDS	13,435	1.00 ppb	OK	2024-12-31
BY WATER DISTRICT	TABOR	13,320	1.00 ppb	OK	2022-12-31
MID-DAKOTA RURAL WATER	MILLER	11,833	1.00 ppb	OK	2022-12-31

Showing top 15 of 703 systems with lead data. Action level: 15 ppb.

Systems With Active Violations

These water systems have exceeded EPA limits and must take corrective action.

WEB WATER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

ABERDEEN · Pop. 20,750

Copper

Lead: 2.00 ppb (2022-12-31)

PIERRE

PIERRE · Pop. 14,091

Copper

Lead: 1.00 ppb (2023-12-31)

BRANDON

BRANDON · Pop. 11,048

Copper

Lead: 1.00 ppb (2023-12-31)

Water Source Types

Groundwater1297 (77%)

Purchased Surface Water193 (12%)

Purchased Groundwater120 (7%)

Surface Water60 (4%)

Groundwater Under Influence of SW5 (0%)

Purchased GW Under Influence of SW1 (0%)

Resources

EPA Water Data Reports

Official drinking water data and reports

Lead in Drinking Water

EPA guidance on lead risks and remediation

Learn About Lead Contamination

Health effects, filtering options, and more

Air Quality

Good

Avg AQI

44.1

PM2.5

5.8 µg/m³

Unhealthy Days

Primary Pollutant

Dust, Ozone

AQI 0 (Good)AQI 100 (Moderate)200+

Source: EPA AirNow & American Lung Association 2024 State of the Air. AQI scale: 0–50 Good · 51–100 Moderate · 101–150 Sensitive Groups · 151+ Unhealthy.

PFAS Contamination

Moderate Detection

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as “forever chemicals,” are a group of synthetic chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment and human body. The EPA set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS in April 2024. View national PFAS tracker →

Systems Tested

PFAS Detected

Detection Rate

28.2%

Exceeding MCL (4 ppt)

3(3.8%)

0%Detection rate: 28.2%100%

Highest recorded level: 10 ppt (EPA MCL: 4 ppt). Ellsworth AFB contamination documented

Data source:EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Lead and Copper Rule monitoring data. Lead levels represent 90th percentile results from the most recent monitoring period. Violations indicate exceedances of EPA action levels requiring corrective action. This tool is for informational purposes only and does not replace your utility's official Consumer Confidence Report.