Water System Report MN

Big Lake

EPA ID: MN1710002 · 12,413 people served · 3 ZIP codes

From the earliest to the most recent cycle in the five-year EPA window, Big Lake has logged zero violations — no MCL exceedances, no health advisories, and no enforcement activity across the entire period for the 12,413 people in its service area, a record that stands up well against both state and national benchmarks.

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

B · 70
Avg Safety Score
12,413
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$336K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Big Lake Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$111,481
Median Household Income
76,274
Service Area Population
0%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
29%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Big Lake serves a community with a median household income of $111,481 and an estimated 76,274 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Big Lake'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
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Sherburne 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

33 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
37 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 47% 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. 8 detections recorded. 2 exceed 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

Hugo
12,047 people
B 0 violations
Cloquet
12,864 people
C 2 violations
Forest Lake
11,800 people
B 1 violation
Waconia
13,277 people
D 0 violations
Grand Rapids
11,346 people
B 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,400
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $367
Total Estimated Cost $2,967

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 $2,967 (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

Big Lake (EPA ID: MN1710002) is a community water system in Minnesota that serves approximately 12,413 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: B (70/100)

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
55309 0.001 mg/L No N/A

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 $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: 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 Big Lake (MN1710002) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Lake water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Big Lake serve?

Big Lake serves approximately 12,413 people across 3 ZIP codes in Minnesota.

Where does Big Lake 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
763-251-2996
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 Big Lake 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.

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
5
Latest sample
8/26/2024
Highest analyte
PFBA: 15.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 15.5 ppt
PFPeA 3.3 ppt

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 Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
3,860
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

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: 12,413
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Big Lake safe to drink?
Big Lake 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?
Big Lake meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Big Lake serve?
Big Lake serves approximately 12,413 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Big Lake's water source?
Big Lake draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Big Lake's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Big Lake's service area?
The Big Lake service area has a median household income of $111,481. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Big Lake get its water?
Big Lake'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.
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