Water System Report MN

Duluth

EPA ID: MN1690011 · 86,859 people served · 17 ZIP codes

Although compliance varies widely among water utilities nationally, Duluth stands out with zero EPA violations over five consecutive monitoring years, delivering safe tap water to 86,859 residents and showing no enforcement activity across the entire reporting span.

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

B · 72
Avg Safety Score
86,859
People Served
17
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.008 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$276K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$72,419
Median Household Income
127,793
Service Area Population
22%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
41th
Energy Burden Percentile
75%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Duluth serves a community with a median household income of $72,419 and an estimated 127,793 residents across its service area. Approximately 75% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Duluth'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
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Carlton 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

81 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
7 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 92% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Minnesota

Lakeville
67,300 people
C 4 violations
Eden Prairie
63,726 people
B 0 violations
Burnsville
61,747 people
C 0 violations
Minnetonka
54,474 people
B 0 violations
Rochester
123,624 people
C 3 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $918
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $1,318

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.

System Overview

Duluth (EPA ID: MN1690011) is a community water system in Minnesota that serves approximately 86,859 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 17 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (72/100)

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

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
55801 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55802 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55803 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55804 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55805 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55806 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55807 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55808 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55810 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55811 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55812 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55814 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55815 0.008 mg/L No N/A
55816 0.008 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: 10 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 7 additional ZIPs 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 Duluth (MN1690011) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Duluth water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Duluth has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Duluth serve?

Duluth serves approximately 86,859 people across 17 ZIP codes in Minnesota.

Where does Duluth get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
218-730-4160
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 City of Duluth 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.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Surface water
Drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

Source: City of Duluth Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

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 →

Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker

This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.

Get notified on replacement progress

Subscribers receive an email when this utility updates its LSL plan, files a milestone report, or adjusts replacement timelines. No marketing, no third-party sharing.

By submitting you agree to Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime via the link in any email.

City of Duluth

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.

Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

6,171
Confirmed Lead
315
Galvanized — Replacement Required
4,958
Unknown Material
16,712
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 86,859
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 →

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 Duluth safe to drink?
Duluth earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Duluth meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Duluth serve?
Duluth serves approximately 86,859 people with drinking water across 17 ZIP codes.
What is Duluth's water source?
Duluth draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Duluth'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 Duluth's service area?
The Duluth service area has a median household income of $72,419. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Duluth get its water?
Duluth'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.
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