Monitoring Violations SD

Watertown Municipal Utilities

EPA ID: SD4600356 · 23,230 people served · 2 ZIP codes

1 total violation across five years at Watertown Municipal Utilities — every finding closed, utility compliant today, 23,230 served.

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

D · 48
Avg Safety Score
23,230
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
1
Contaminants Flagged
$174K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Watertown Municipal Utilities Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$62,874
Median Household Income
26,524
Service Area Population
29%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
67%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Watertown Municipal Utilities serves a community with a median household income of $62,874 and an estimated 26,524 residents across its service area. Approximately 67% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Watertown Municipal Utilities'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.

Low Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
0th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 4% of homes in Codington County, South Dakota rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

53 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
16 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 77% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Watertown Municipal Utilities compares to EPA limits

Combined Radium 1 pCi/L (20% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 5 pCi/L

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in South Dakota

D 2 violations
C 9 violations
Aberdeen
27,989 people
C 8 violations
Mitchell
15,651 people
C 1 violation
Yankton
15,411 people
C 4 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $600
Total Estimated Cost $1,800

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 $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,800 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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

Watertown Municipal Utilities (EPA ID: SD4600356) is a community water system in South Dakota that serves approximately 23,230 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: D (48/100)

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

Violation History

1 monitoring/reporting violation recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Combined Radium Radionuclides 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
57201 0.002 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: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP 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 Watertown Municipal Utilities (SD4600356) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watertown Municipal Utilities water safe to drink?

Watertown Municipal Utilities has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Watertown Municipal Utilities serve?

Watertown Municipal Utilities serves approximately 23,230 people across 2 ZIP codes in South Dakota.

Where does Watertown Municipal Utilities 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
(605)882-6233
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 Watertown Municipal Utilities 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
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: Watertown Municipal Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.

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

Source water assessment from Watertown Municipal Utilities Consumer Confidence Report:
The state has performed an assessment of our source water and they have determined that the relative susceptibility rating for the Watertown Municipal Utilities public water supply system is medium.

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
58

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
3,368
Unknown Material
6,600
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 2024-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 23,230
Reported to South Dakota

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 Watertown Municipal Utilities safe to drink?
Watertown Municipal Utilities has a D safety grade based on 1 recorded violation. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Watertown Municipal Utilities's water?
Detected contaminants include Combined Radium. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 recorded violation, 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 Watertown Municipal Utilities serve?
Watertown Municipal Utilities serves approximately 23,230 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Watertown Municipal Utilities's water source?
Watertown Municipal Utilities draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Watertown Municipal Utilities'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 Watertown Municipal Utilities's service area?
The Watertown Municipal Utilities service area has a median household income of $62,874. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Watertown Municipal Utilities get its water?
Watertown Municipal Utilities'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.

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 →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Watertown Municipal Utilities (EPA ID: SD4600356) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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