Historical Compliance Records SD 9 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Box Elder

EPA ID: SD4600046 ยท 14,000 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Box Elder (SD4600046): 9 past health-based violations, since resolved. 9 total violations across five years at Box Elder - every finding closed, utility compliant today, 14,000 served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 78
Avg Safety Score
14,000
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
9
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
2
Contaminants Flagged
$263K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Box Elder Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$74,936
Median Household Income
32,027
Service Area Population
30%
Disadvantaged Population
47th
Poverty Percentile
47th
Energy Burden Percentile
26%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Box Elder serves a community with a median household income of $74,936 and an estimated 32,027 residents across its service area.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Box Elder'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
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

23 yr
Avg Pipe Age
PEX or Copper
Pipe Material
44 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 34% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Box Elder compares to EPA limits

Gross Beta 4 pCi/L (8% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 50 pCi/L

What This Means For You

Gross Alpha at 5 pCi/L exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L. Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

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†’

Gross Alpha was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in South Dakota

Pierre
14,091 people
C 0 violations
Spearfish
13,803 people
0 violations
Huron
14,263 people
0 violations
C 0 violations
By Water District
13,320 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $800
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $200
PFAS Treatment $200
Total Estimated Cost $1,600

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Property Value Decline $13,143

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$11,735
10 years
$23,470
20 years
$46,940

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,600 (one-time) vs. $23,470 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

Box Elder (EPA ID: SD4600046) is a community water system in South Dakota that serves approximately 14,000 people from groundwater sources.

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

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (78/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 3 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 current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 9 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 7 resolved, 2 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Gross Alpha Health-based Archived
April 1, 2025 Gross Alpha Health-based Archived
July 1, 2024 Gross Beta Health-based Resolved
April 1, 2022 Gross Beta Health-based Resolved
April 1, 2022 Gross Alpha Health-based Resolved
January 1, 2022 Gross Alpha Health-based Resolved
January 1, 2022 Gross Beta Health-based Resolved
October 1, 2021 Gross Alpha Health-based Resolved
October 1, 2021 Gross Beta Health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Gross Alpha Radionuclides 5 Yes
Gross Beta Radionuclides 4 Yes

Health Risk Details

Gross Alpha Particle Activity (EPA limit: pCi/L)

Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles At-risk groups: long-term residents in areas with uranium or radium-rich geology, people on private wells in western US.

Removal methods: reverse osmosis, ion exchange (anion exchange for radium), lime softening. Find the right filter โ†’

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.002 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 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 $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 SD 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 Box Elder (SD4600046) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Box Elder water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Box Elder; its 9 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Box Elder serve?

Box Elder serves approximately 14,000 people across 3 ZIP codes in South Dakota.

Where does Box Elder get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
174

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 Box Elder safe to drink?
Box Elder earns a B safety grade with 9 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Box Elder's water?
Detected contaminants include Gross Alpha, Gross Beta. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Box Elder serve?
Box Elder serves approximately 14,000 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Box Elder's water source?
Box Elder draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Box Elder's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Box Elder's service area?
The Box Elder service area has a median household income of $74,936. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Box Elder get its water?
Box Elder'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 the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Box Elder (SD): 9 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/sd4600046/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-sd4600046,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Box Elder (SD): 9 Health Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/sd4600046/}
}

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

Box Elder (EPA ID: SD4600046) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems South Dakota Box Elder

Get safety alerts for Box Elder, South Dakota

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found - check filter options Free tool - no phone call required.