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Shelby, MN Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Shelby, MN — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Shelby's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Amboy PWSID: MN1070001 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 6.00 ppb, 40% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

C

Shelby earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 6.00 ppb — 40% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
13 violations since 2015, 11 health-based
No violations currently open
Shelby's lead level vs. all Minnesota community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 6.00 ppb — 40% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 13% of Minnesota utilities
Population Served
14
~255 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
13 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
40% of EPA action level
6.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
Copper (Cu)
90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.
157.7% of EPA action level
2,050 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 6.00 ppb, 40% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 2 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2024 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 4.1 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2024 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 5.1 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2024 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 8 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2023 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 8.3 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2023 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 4.3 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2023 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 6 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2023 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 6 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2022 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 5.3 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2022 Archived
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL EXCEEDANCE 5.6 PCI/L 5 pCi/L 2022 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2021 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Coliform (TCR) MCL EXCEEDANCE — 5% of samples 2015 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

13 violations are on record since 2015, of which 11 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Amboy
PWSID MN1070001
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 14
Service connections 255
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shelby tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 6.00 ppb, 40% of the action level.
Does Shelby water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Shelby? ▼
Amboy (PWSID MN1070001). Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2023-07-27. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Shelby Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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