Southern Black Hills Water
EPA ID: SD4602309 · 492 people served · 15 ZIP codes
Looking at the EPA enforcement file for Southern Black Hills Water, 6 violations are listed as unresolved — those findings cover the utility's service area of approximately 492 people and remain open in the federal compliance system, awaiting formal corrective action documentation.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 6 (2021) to 8 (2025). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Southern Black Hills Water Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Southern Black Hills Water serves a community with a median household income of $81,911 and an estimated 85,460 residents across its service area. Approximately 55% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Southern Black Hills Water'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.
About 2% of homes in Pennington 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
Detected Contaminants
How Southern Black Hills Water compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 3 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 6 detections recorded. 3 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Chlorine residual was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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
Southern Black Hills Water (EPA ID: SD4602309) is a community water system in South Dakota that serves approximately 492 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 15 ZIP codes across 14 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (75/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 7, 2025 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2025 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Unresolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 21, 2024 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Resolved |
| December 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 3 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 3 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | Yes |
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 2 | Yes |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Chlorine (Residual Disinfectant) (EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level))
Irritation & DBP formation at high levels; protective at normal treatment levels At-risk groups: people with asthma or chemical sensitivities, kidney dialysis patients (water must be dechlorinated).
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), KDF media filter, carbon block filter. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57744 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 57751 | 0.004 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 57738 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 57722 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 57745 | 0.001 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 FilterFree 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 SD or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
- 57702 — Rapid City
- 57703 — Rapid City
- 57719 — Box Elder
- 57722 — Buffalo Gap
- 57725 — Caputa
- 57730 — Custer
- 57735 — Edgemont
- 57738 — Fairburn
- 57744 — Hermosa
- 57745 — Hill City
- 57747 — Hot Springs
- 57751 — Keystone
- 57761 — New Underwood
- 57763 — Oelrichs
- 57766 — Oral
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Southern Black Hills Water (SD4602309) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southern Black Hills Water water safe to drink?
Southern Black Hills Water has recorded 2 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Southern Black Hills Water serve?
Southern Black Hills Water serves approximately 492 people across 15 ZIP codes in South Dakota.
Where does Southern Black Hills Water get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.
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
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Southern Black Hills Water (EPA ID: SD4602309) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.