Water System Report MN

Moorhead

EPA ID: MN1140008 ยท 44,583 people served ยท 5 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Moorhead (MN1140008): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Moorhead earns a clean bill from EPA monitoring - no violations in five years across a service area of 44,583 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

44,583
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.008 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$268K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$95,750
Median Household Income
50,221
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
71%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Moorhead serves a community with a median household income of $95,750 and an estimated 50,221 residents across its service area. Approximately 71% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Moorhead's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
70th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.

Infrastructure Risk

48 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
22 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 69% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

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 โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Minnesota

Mankato
42,803 people
C 0 violations
Cottage Grove
42,760 people
C 0 violations
Shakopee
47,000 people
C 2 violations
Saint Louis Park
50,010 people
C 0 violations
Apple Valley
50,300 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $720
PFAS Treatment $100
Water Filtration $60
Total Estimated Cost $2,080

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:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,080 (one-time) vs. $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

Moorhead (EPA ID: MN1140008) is a community water system in Minnesota that serves approximately 44,583 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.008 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High 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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by MN or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Moorhead (MN1140008) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moorhead water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Moorhead in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Moorhead serve?

Moorhead serves approximately 44,583 people across 5 ZIP codes in Minnesota.

Where does Moorhead get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
116
Detections
3
Latest sample
3/4/2024
Highest analyte
PFBA: 7.6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 7.6 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

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

Should I use a water filter?
Moorhead meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Moorhead serve?
Moorhead serves approximately 44,583 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Moorhead's water source?
Moorhead draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Moorhead's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.008 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Moorhead's service area?
The Moorhead service area has a median household income of $95,750. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Moorhead get its water?
Moorhead's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Moorhead, MN: Serves 45K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mn1140008/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mn1140008,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Moorhead, MN: Serves 45K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mn1140008/}
}
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