Water System Report MN

Rochester

EPA ID: MN1550010 ยท 123,624 people served ยท 8 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Rochester (MN1550010): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. EPA monitoring data for Rochester shows an unblemished five-year compliance history - no violations of any kind have been recorded for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 123,624 people, covering every reporting cycle without a single MCL exceedance or monitoring lapse.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 66
Avg Safety Score
123,624
People Served
8
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.007 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$325K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$97,288
Median Household Income
141,005
Service Area Population
9%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
51%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Rochester serves a community with a median household income of $97,288 and an estimated 141,005 residents across its service area. Approximately 51% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Rochester'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

44 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
26 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 63% 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

Bloomington
91,300 people
C 0 violations
Brooklyn Park
89,995 people
D 2 violations
Duluth
86,859 people
B 0 violations
Woodbury
82,643 people
D 1 violation
Maple Grove
82,000 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,050
PFAS Treatment $63
Total Estimated Cost $2,313

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 $2,313 (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

Rochester (EPA ID: MN1550010) is a community water system in Minnesota that serves approximately 123,624 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 8 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (66/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 8 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

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
0.007 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 Rochester (MN1550010) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rochester water safe to drink?

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

Rochester serves approximately 123,624 people across 8 ZIP codes in Minnesota.

Where does Rochester get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
1740
Detections
2
Latest sample
2/22/2024
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 3.9 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 3.9 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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Rochester safe to drink?
Rochester has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Rochester meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Rochester serve?
Rochester serves approximately 123,624 people with drinking water across 8 ZIP codes.
What is Rochester's water source?
Rochester draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Rochester's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.007 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Rochester's service area?
The Rochester service area has a median household income of $97,288. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Rochester get its water?
Rochester'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Rochester, MN: Serves 124K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mn1550010/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mn1550010,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Rochester, MN: Serves 124K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mn1550010/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Rochester (EPA ID: MN1550010) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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