Water System Report SD

Southern Black Hills Water

EPA ID: SD4602309 ยท 947 people served ยท 14 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Southern Black Hills Water (SD4602309): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Water monitoring history at Southern Black Hills Water shows a clean slate - EPA tracking over the past five years turned up no violations, and 947 residents continue to receive fully compliant service.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 67
Avg Safety Score
947
People Served
14
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$275K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Southern Black Hills Water Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$83,203
Median Household Income
73,985
Service Area Population
29%
Disadvantaged Population
59th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
56%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Southern Black Hills Water serves a community with a median household income of $83,203 and an estimated 73,985 residents across its service area. Approximately 56% 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

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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
43th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
34th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

46 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
24 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 66% 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. 6 detections recorded. 3 exceed 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†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in South Dakota

Valley Springs
925 people
0 violations
B 2 violations
Whitewood
879 people
0 violations
Fall River Wud
1,057 people
2 violations
Deadwood
1,156 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 $686
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $129
PFAS Treatment $121
Total Estimated Cost $1,336

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 $1,336 (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

Southern Black Hills Water (EPA ID: SD4602309) is a community water system in South Dakota that serves approximately 947 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 14 ZIP codes across 13 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (67/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 14 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
0.002 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 Southern Black Hills Water (SD4602309) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Southern Black Hills Water water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Southern Black Hills Water 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 Southern Black Hills Water serve?

Southern Black Hills Water serves approximately 947 people across 14 ZIP codes in South Dakota.

Where does Southern Black Hills Water get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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 Southern Black Hills Water safe to drink?
Southern Black Hills Water has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Southern Black Hills Water meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Southern Black Hills Water serve?
Southern Black Hills Water serves approximately 947 people with drinking water across 14 ZIP codes.
What is Southern Black Hills Water's water source?
Southern Black Hills Water draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Southern Black Hills Water'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 Southern Black Hills Water's service area?
The Southern Black Hills Water service area has a median household income of $83,203. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Southern Black Hills Water get its water?
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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Southern Black Hills Water Water Quality Report, SD. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/sd4602309/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-sd4602309,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Southern Black Hills Water Water Quality Report, SD}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/sd4602309/}
}

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

Southern Black Hills Water (EPA ID: SD4602309) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems South Dakota Southern Black Hills Water

Get safety alerts for Southern Black Hills Water, South Dakota

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

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.