Otter Tail County, Minnesota
19 ZIP codes · Avg score 57/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Current EPA records place Otter Tail County in the middle tier for drinking water safety, with 19 ZIP codes showing a range of outcomes.
How Otter Tail County Compares
How Otter Tail County Compares
Otter Tail County scores 5 points below the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 11 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.5 (asthma 10%, diabetes 12.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,264, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.368% avg pipe failure probability, 11% of ZIPs at high risk
58.4% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Otter Tail County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 25 total (25 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
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: $1,264
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
36,791 housing units in Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelican Rapids | 2,577 | 19 |
| 2 | Stony Bar Association | 40 | 19 |
| 3 | River and Woods Mobile Home Park | 25 | 19 |
| 4 | Fergus Falls | 14,194 | 11 |
| 5 | Elizabeth | 168 | 11 |
18 total water systems serve Otter Tail County.
All ZIP Codes in Otter Tail County
19 ZIP codes tracked in Otter Tail County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56324 | Dalton | 70 | B | 1 | $247K |
| 2 | 56515 | Battle Lake | 70 | B | 0 | $371K |
| 3 | 56571 | Ottertail | 70 | B | 0 | $317K |
| 4 | 56587 | Vergas | 70 | B | 0 | $337K |
| 5 | 56361 | Parkers Prairie | 66 | C | 0 | $220K |
| 6 | 56551 | Henning | 66 | C | 1 | $224K |
| 7 | 56544 | Frazee | 65 | C | 0 | $236K |
| 8 | 56573 | Perham | 65 | C | 0 | $257K |
| 9 | 56567 | New York Mills | 62 | C | 0 | $189K |
| 10 | 56586 | Underwood | 62 | C | 0 | $284K |
| 11 | 56527 | Deer Creek | 55 | C | 0 | $192K |
| 12 | 56524 | Clitherall | 53 | D | 0 | $285K |
| 13 | 56528 | Dent | 53 | D | 0 | $320K |
| 14 | 56534 | Erhard | 53 | D | 0 | $220K |
| 15 | 56576 | Richville | 53 | D | 0 | $361K |
| 16 | 56533 | Elizabeth | 40 | D | 0 | $166K |
| 17 | 56572 | Pelican Rapids | 40 | D | 19 (17 health) | $292K |
| 18 | 56588 | Vining | 40 | D | 0 | $277K |
| 19 | 56537 | Fergus Falls | 38 | F | 11 (10 health) | $223K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Otter Tail County
Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 58.4% 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 Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Overview
Otter Tail County in Minnesota covers 19 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (57/100).
4 of 19 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 27 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.