Public water system record
Ellsworth
Serves Ellsworth, Nobles County, MN · 462 people served
Federal records show 4 health-based violations and 4 monitoring/reporting issues for Ellsworth in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Nitrate violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 4
- Resolved
- 4
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- Yes
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 4
Key facts
- Ellsworth buys its water from Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water System.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Nitrate, 15 mg/L, federal limit 10 mg/L (1.5 times the limit), 2023.
- Most recent enforcement action: boil water order by Minnesota, July 1992.
- Record on file since 1986, with 3 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 1 lead and 27 unknown out of 258 service lines.
Check whether Ellsworth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nitrate
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 12 mg/L, federal limit 10 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
330 | Oct 1, 2024 | Resolved | Yes |
|
Nitrate
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 12 mg/L, federal limit 10 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
330 | Jul 1, 2024 | Resolved | Yes |
|
Nitrate
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 15 mg/L, federal limit 10 mg/L (1.5 times the limit)
|
330 | Jul 1, 2023 | Resolved | Yes |
|
Nitrate
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 11.6 mg/L, federal limit 10 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
330 | Apr 1, 2019 | Resolved | Yes |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jul 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2017 | Resolved |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
Full record since 1986
EPA's records for Ellsworth go back to 1986. Before October 19, 2016 they list 3 health-based violations (3 resolved) and 2 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1 | 0 |
| 1990s | 1 | 0 |
| 2000s | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 0 | 2 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 1 | 2 |
| 2020s | 3 | 0 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began August 2000, Resolved.
Show all 3 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Aug 1, 2000 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 1992 | Resolved |
|
Nitrate (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 1986 | Resolved |
Enforcement actions
Minnesota regulators issued 1 boil water order to Ellsworth in 1992. The most recent was a boil water order in July 1992.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 1992 | Minnesota | Boil water order | 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform |
What the violations mean
Nitrate
4 incidentsNitrate exceeded the federal limit
High nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under 6 months and can cause blue baby syndrome
Where the water comes from
Ellsworth buys its water from Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water System. It lists no wells or intakes of its own.
Buys water from
- Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water System Lake Benton, MN
Annual water quality report
Ellsworth 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 500 or fewer people may meet the rule by telling customers the report is available on request, so you may need to ask Ellsworth for a copy.
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