COUNTY REPORT SD

Mellette County, South Dakota

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 58/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Water safety in Mellette County is uneven — some of its 8 ZIP codes meet standards cleanly while others carry documented violations.

How Mellette County Compares

Mellette County58/100
South Dakota avg60/100
National avg68/100

How Mellette County Compares

C
County Grade
58/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
2
Water Systems

Mellette County scores 2 points below the South Dakota state average (60/100) and 10 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
58
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 57579 (82/100)
Lowest ZIP: 57585 (53/100)
$52K
Median Home Value
$588
Avg Remediation (113% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Mellette County, South Dakota

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 19.2 (asthma 14.5%, diabetes 20.9%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $619, driven primarily by wildfire

Infrastructure: 0.364% avg pipe failure probability, 13% of ZIPs at high risk

67.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 14.5% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 20.9% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 47.9% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1981
Median Build Year
67.1%
Pre-1978 Housing
36%
Pipe Failure Probability
13%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $619

Wildfire $300/yr
Water / Lead $181/yr
Energy Code Gap $113/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

3,345 housing units in Mellette County

Pre-1940 5%
1940–1959 10%
1960–1979 36%
1980–1999 34%
2000+ 14%

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 Mellette County

$52K
Median Home Value
$588
Est. Remediation Cost
1.1%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Mellette 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 Mellette County residents

Asthma 14.5% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 20.9% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 47.9% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

All ZIP Codes in Mellette County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Mellette County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 57579 White River 82 B 2 (1 health) $59K
2 57555 Mission 63 C 0 $74K
3 57560 Norris 53 D 0
4 57563 Okreek 53 D 0
5 57566 Parmelee 53 D 0 $10K
6 57570 Rosebud 53 D 0 $45K
7 57572 Saint Francis 53 D 0 $35K
8 57585 Wood 53 D 0 $104K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Mellette 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.

Overview

Mellette County in South Dakota covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (58/100).

1 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation have been documented.

← Back to South Dakota water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Mellette County?
Mellette County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Mellette County?
Mellette County is served by 2 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Mellette County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Mellette County is wildfire. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $619 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Mellette County?
The median home build year in Mellette County is 1981. 67.1% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Mellette County compare to South Dakota?
Mellette County has an average water safety score of 58/100, which is below the South Dakota state average of 60/100.

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