Water System Report MN

Waite Park

EPA ID: MN1730039 ยท 8,354 people served ยท 2 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Waite Park (MN1730039): PFAS sampling above the current EPA limit (UCMR5). Across every monitored period in the past five years, Waite Park reported no EPA violations for its service population of 8,354.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 49
Avg Safety Score
8,354
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$247K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Waite Park Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$63,556
Median Household Income
42,588
Service Area Population
14%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
47%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Waite Park serves a community with a median household income of $63,556 and an estimated 42,588 residents across its service area. Approximately 47% 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

Waite Park'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
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

34 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
37 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 48% 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. 9 detections recorded. 3 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.

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

Virginia
8,361 people
B 0 violations
New Prague
8,247 people
C 0 violations
Thief River Falls
8,701 people
2 violations
Mahtomedi
8,818 people
C 0 violations
Little Falls
9,069 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,500
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $550
Total Estimated Cost $3,250

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 $3,250 (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

Waite Park (EPA ID: MN1730039) is a community water system in Minnesota that serves approximately 8,354 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (49/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 2 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 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 Waite Park (MN1730039) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waite Park water safe to drink?

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

Waite Park serves approximately 8,354 people across 2 ZIP codes in Minnesota.

Where does Waite Park get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
16
Latest sample
11/28/2023
Highest analyte
PFOS: 18 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 18 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFHxS 17 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFPeA 12 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFBA 12 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 8 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFOA 5.5 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal 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†’

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 Waite Park safe to drink?
Waite Park has a D safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Waite Park meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Waite Park serve?
Waite Park serves approximately 8,354 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Waite Park's water source?
Waite Park draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Waite Park's service area?
The Waite Park service area has a median household income of $63,556. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Waite Park get its water?
Waite Park'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.). Waite Park Water Quality Report, MN. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mn1730039/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mn1730039,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Waite Park Water Quality Report, MN}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mn1730039/}
}

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

Waite Park (EPA ID: MN1730039) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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