Public water system record
South Saint Paul
Serves South St. Paul, Dakota County, MN · 20,664 people served
Federal records show 5 health-based violations and no monitoring/reporting issues for South Saint Paul in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 5
- Resolved
- 5
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- Yes
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 0
Key facts
- South Saint Paul draws water from 8 wells (3 of them for emergency, seasonal or other part-time use).
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Combined Radium (-226 and -228), 8.4 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.7 times the limit), 2020.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Minnesota, October 2020.
- Record on file since 1993, with 1 health-based violation before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 749 lead and 92 unknown out of 7,040 service lines.
Check whether South Saint Paul serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
340 | Jan 1, 2020 | Resolved | No |
|
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 8.4 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
340 | Jan 1, 2020 | Resolved | No |
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 17.2 pCi/L, federal limit 15 pCi/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
340 | Oct 1, 2018 | Resolved | No |
|
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6.5 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.3 times the limit)
|
340 | Oct 1, 2018 | Resolved | No |
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
110 | Sep 1, 2018 | Resolved | Yes |
Full record since 1993
EPA's records for South Saint Paul go back to 1993. Before October 19, 2016 they list 1 health-based violation (1 resolved) and 3 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 | 3 |
| 2000s | 1 | 0 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020s | 2 | 0 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, began November 2005, Resolved.
Show the health-based violation before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Nov 21, 2005 | Resolved |
Enforcement actions
Minnesota regulators took 2 formal enforcement actions against South Saint Paul and issued 1 boil water order between 2006 and 2020. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in October 2020.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2020 | Minnesota | Compliance order (no penalty) | 4 violations (4 health-based): Combined Radium (-226 and -228), Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U |
| Sep 7, 2018 | Minnesota | Boil water order | 1 violation (1 health-based): Revised Total Coliform Rule |
| Apr 17, 2006 | Minnesota | Signed compliance agreement | 1 violation (1 health-based): Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U |
What the violations mean
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
2 incidentsTest results for Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about each of these violations.
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
2 incidentsTest results for Combined Radium (-226 and -228) were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about each of these violations.
Revised Total Coliform Rule
1 incidentThe system did not meet a requirement of the Revised Total Coliform Rule
Coliform and E. coli rules protect against bacteria in the distribution system
Where the water comes from
South Saint Paul draws water from 8 wells (3 of them for emergency, seasonal or other part-time use). It also has emergency connections to Saint Paul Regional Water Services and Inver Grove Heights.
Emergency or part-time connections to
- Saint Paul Regional Water Services St. Paul, MN
- Inver Grove Heights Inver Grove Heights, MN
Annual water quality report
South Saint Paul must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Minnesota.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells