Nobles County, Minnesota
10 ZIP codes · Avg score 64/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Nobles County shows moderate water quality across its 10 ZIP codes — some areas carry violations worth monitoring.
How Nobles County Compares
How Nobles County Compares
Nobles County scores 2 points above the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 4 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Nobles County, Minnesota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.6 (asthma 9.5%, diabetes 13.5%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,195, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.458% avg pipe failure probability, 80% of ZIPs at high risk
81.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Nobles County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 4 total (4 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,195
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
8,092 housing units in Nobles County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Nobles County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Nobles County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Nobles County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Nobles County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water System | 13,644 | 4 |
| 2 | Rock County Rural Water System | 2,919 | 2 |
| 3 | Ellsworth | 462 | 2 |
| 4 | Bigelow | 235 | 1 |
| 5 | Reading | 75 | 1 |
12 total water systems serve Nobles County.
All ZIP Codes in Nobles County
10 ZIP codes tracked in Nobles County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56110 | Adrian | 70 | B | 0 | $197K |
| 2 | 56119 | Brewster | 66 | C | 0 | $178K |
| 3 | 56155 | Lismore | 66 | C | 0 | $105K |
| 4 | 56168 | Rushmore | 66 | C | 0 | $163K |
| 5 | 56185 | Wilmont | 66 | C | 0 | $163K |
| 6 | 56165 | Reading | 64 | C | 1 | $208K |
| 7 | 56153 | Leota | 63 | C | 0 | $133K |
| 8 | 56117 | Bigelow | 61 | C | 1 (1 health) | $130K |
| 9 | 56187 | Worthington | 60 | C | 0 | $194K |
| 10 | 56129 | Ellsworth | 57 | C | 2 (2 health) | $119K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Nobles County
Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 81.7% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Nobles County, Minnesota
Overview
Nobles County in Minnesota covers 10 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (64/100).
3 of 10 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Minnesota water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.