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St. Louis County, MN Water Quality

Water quality data for 33 public water systems serving St. Louis County, Minnesota — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 33 water systems · 46 cities
✅
Excellent — All Systems Performing Well

Water quality across the county is outstanding with minimal violations and very low lead levels.

A

St. Louis County Earns a A

St. Louis County: 46 communities across 33 water systems. 95.7% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 3.00 ppb
  • 19 communities with a lead detection, 27 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 10 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 95.7% of communities have no open violations
3 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
33
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
95%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Embarrass
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Biwabik
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Canosia
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Colvin
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Pike
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Greenwood
    4.70 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Nett Lake
    0.26 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    D
  • Hibbing
    32.00 ppb
    Lead above the 15 ppb action level
    C
  • Ely
    5.00 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    C
  • Morse
    5.00 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    C
County Lead Level — Median 3 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 3 ppb — 20% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
13
5 – 10 ppb
4
10 – 15 ppb
2
No Data
27

All Cities in St. Louis County

Duluth 8.00 ppb C
Hibbing 32.00 ppb C
Hermantown Not detected A
Virginia Not detected A
Chisholm 4.00 ppb A
Eveleth 3.00 ppb B
Ely 5.00 ppb C
Proctor 2.00 ppb B
Mountain Iron Not detected B
Rice Lake Not detected B
Hoyt Lakes Not detected B
Gilbert Not detected B
White Not detected B
Babbitt Not detected B
Biwabik Not detected B
Buhl Not detected B
Fayal Not detected B
Cook Not detected B
Floodwood Not detected A
Breitung 3.00 ppb B
Tower Not detected B
Midway 2.00 ppb B
Morse 5.00 ppb C
Winton 3.00 ppb B
Kinney Not detected B
Orr 2.00 ppb B
Meadowlands Not detected B
Clinton Not detected B
Iron Junction 2.00 ppb B
Nett Lake 0.26 ppb D
McKinley 2.00 ppb B
Leiding 14.30 ppb C
Leonidas 3.00 ppb B
Balkan 4.00 ppb A
Brookston Not detected B
Owens Not detected B
Lakewood 8.00 ppb C
Floodwood Not detected A
Canosia Not detected A
Pike Not detected B
Embarrass Not detected B
Greenwood 4.70 ppb D
Biwabik Not detected B
Meadowlands Not detected B
Colvin Not detected B
Field Not detected B
Showing 46 cities
No active violations Active violations

About St. Louis County Drinking Water

St. Louis County is served by 33 water systems covering 46 communities. 96% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 19 recorded a detection, with a median of 3.00 ppb — 20% of the federal action level. 27 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

No community here has PFAS above the federal limit on record. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 10 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is St. Louis County tap water safe to drink?▼
96% of communities have no open violation. No community has PFAS above the federal limit on record.
What is the lead level in St. Louis County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 3.00 ppb, 20% of the 15 ppb action level. 27 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve St. Louis County?▼
33 community water systems serve 46 communities here.
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