Rapid City, SD: 9 Health Violations - Home Safety 76/100
4 ZIP codes · 12 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Rapid City: B.
The model grade is high, but the records on this page include findings worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (9 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
In the dataset behind this page, Rapid City, SD receives one of the two highest grades; read the compliance history system by system for details.
How Rapid City Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Rapid City Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0073 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 53% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $800 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.98.
Who Supplies Your Water in Rapid City
Federal records list 12 water systems tied to Rapid City, SD. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Rapid City, South Dakota, covering 12 community water systems serving approximately 98,535 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 4 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 9 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Rapid City: B (76/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Rapid City water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0073 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
4 of 4 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Alpha (excl. radon and uranium) | Radionuclides | 10 | 1 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | Radionuclides | 8 | 1 |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 4 | 3 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57703 | C | 10 | 9 | Rapid Valley Sanitary District |
| 57701 | B | 2 | 0 | Rapid City |
| 57702 | B | 2 | 0 | Rapid City |
All ZIP Codes in Rapid City
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Rapid City
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Rapid City Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Rapid City
With 53% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Median construction year in Rapid City: 1980, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.
Over half of homes in Rapid City were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Rapid City Homeowners
How large is the remediation estimate next to home prices in Rapid City? Small in relative terms: it amounts to 1% of the median value or less, although the dollar figure below is still an estimate and actual costs vary by property and contractor.
Estimated remediation costs in Rapid City can be compared with local home values. The $450–$1,550 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 43% above the South Dakota average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Rapid City
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Rapid City
Historical NFIP data for Rapid City contains 94 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,095. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $800 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Rapid City, SD