Monitoring Violations MN

Cloquet

EPA ID: MN1090005 · 12,864 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Cloquet carries 1 open EPA violation that remain unresolved in the federal system — approximately 12,864 people fall within its service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 67
Avg Safety Score
12,864
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.003 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
2
Contaminants Flagged
$213K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Cloquet Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$66,399
Median Household Income
21,066
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
53th
Energy Burden Percentile
58%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Cloquet serves a community with a median household income of $66,399 and an estimated 21,066 residents across its service area. Approximately 58% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Cloquet's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in St. Louis County, Minnesota rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

49 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
19 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 72% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Cloquet compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Revised Total Coliform Rule at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.035 ppt, PFOS: 0.015 ppt, PFBS: 2 ppt, PFHxS: 0.047 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Minnesota

Waconia
13,277 people
D 0 violations
Big Lake
12,413 people
B 0 violations
C 3 violations
Hugo
12,047 people
B 0 violations
Sauk Rapids
13,835 people
C 3 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,433
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $200
Total Estimated Cost $2,033

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,033 (one-time) vs. $5,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Cloquet (EPA ID: MN1090005) is a community water system in Minnesota that serves approximately 12,864 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (67/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

2 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 1, 2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
55720 0.003 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Cloquet (MN1090005) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cloquet water safe to drink?

Cloquet has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Cloquet serve?

Cloquet serves approximately 12,864 people across 3 ZIP codes in Minnesota.

Where does Cloquet get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
218-879-6758
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Contact information from Cloquet Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Minimal — disinfection only
Disinfection (typically chlorine) without additional filtration or coagulation stages. Common for groundwater systems where source water meets federal standards after disinfection alone.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
fluoride

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Cloquet Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
232
Detections
4
Latest sample
3/11/2024
Highest analyte
PFOS: 8.4 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 8.4 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxS 8 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Component of EPA Hazard Index — combined exposure assessed against unitless threshold of 1.0.
2.9 ppt No federal limit set
PFBA
Not yet EPA-regulated
7.8 ppt No federal limit set
PFDA
Not yet EPA-regulated
0.72 ppt No federal limit set
PFDoA
Not yet EPA-regulated
0.4 ppt No federal limit set
PFHpA
Not yet EPA-regulated
0.65 ppt No federal limit set
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
8.9 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFHxA
Not yet EPA-regulated
1 ppt No federal limit set
PFNA
Perfluorononanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
0.39 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFPeA
Not yet EPA-regulated
0.91 ppt No federal limit set
PFPeS
Not yet EPA-regulated
1.3 ppt No federal limit set
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
2.9 ppt 4 ppt Below EPA limit
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
11 ppt 4 ppt Above EPA limit

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Cloquet.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
356
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,909
Unknown Material
1,383
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2024-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 12,864
Reported to Minnesota

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from Cloquet Consumer Confidence Report:
  • PFOS detected up to 11.0 ppt, above EPA MCL of 4.0 ppt and MDH comparison value 2.3 ppt
  • PFHxS up to 8.9 ppt, near the 2029 MCL of 10 ppt
  • 1 E. coli-positive routine sample (no TT exceedance)

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Cloquet safe to drink?
Cloquet has a C safety grade based on 2 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Cloquet's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 1 DBP Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Cloquet serve?
Cloquet serves approximately 12,864 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Cloquet's water source?
Cloquet draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Cloquet's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.003 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Cloquet's service area?
The Cloquet service area has a median household income of $66,399. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Cloquet get its water?
Cloquet's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Cloquet (EPA ID: MN1090005) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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