Water System Report MN

Crystal

EPA ID: MN1270008 ยท 22,937 people served ยท 4 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Crystal (MN1270008): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. With a five-year violation-free history, Crystal delivers safe water to 22,937 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

22,937
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$296K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$80,089
Median Household Income
113,681
Service Area Population
18%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
86%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Crystal serves a community with a median household income of $80,089 and an estimated 113,681 residents across its service area. Approximately 86% 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

Crystal'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
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
80th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

66 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
2 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 97% 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. 5 detections 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

New Brighton
22,902 people
C 0 violations
Golden Valley
23,000 people
0 violations
Hastings
23,222 people
D 1 violation
Farmington
23,534 people
C 0 violations
Columbia Heights
22,278 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 $1,200
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $375
Total Estimated Cost $1,975

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 $1,975 (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

Crystal (EPA ID: MN1270008) is a community water system in Minnesota that serves approximately 22,937 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 1 community.

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 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.

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 Crystal (MN1270008) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crystal water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Crystal 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 Crystal serve?

Crystal serves approximately 22,937 people across 4 ZIP codes in Minnesota.

Where does Crystal 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
4
Latest sample
2/12/2025
Highest analyte
PFBA: 12.8 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 12.8 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†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Crystal meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Crystal serve?
Crystal serves approximately 22,937 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Crystal's water source?
Crystal draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Crystal's service area?
The Crystal service area has a median household income of $80,089. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Crystal get its water?
Crystal'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.). Crystal, MN: Serves 23K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mn1270008/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mn1270008,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Crystal, MN: Serves 23K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mn1270008/}
}
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