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Stearns County, MN Water Quality

Water quality data for 29 public water systems serving Stearns County, Minnesota — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 29 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

Stearns County Earns a A

Stearns County: 46 communities across 29 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.00 ppb
  • 18 communities with a lead detection, 28 reporting none detected
  • 1 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 6 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
2 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
29
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
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
  • Cold Spring
    3.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Paynesville
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • St. Augusta
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Richmond
    2.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Rockville
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Waite Park
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
    C
  • Crow River
    Not detected
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Belgrade
    Not detected
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Zion
    Not detected
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Collegeville
    2.00 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
County Lead Level — Median 2 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2 ppb — 13.3% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
17
5 – 10 ppb
1
No Data
28

All Cities in Stearns County

St. Cloud Not detected A
Sartell 2.00 ppb A
Waite Park Not detected C
St. Joseph 5.00 ppb A
Sauk Centre Not detected B
Cold Spring 3.00 ppb A
Melrose Not detected A
Albany Not detected B
Paynesville Not detected B
St. Augusta Not detected B
Avon 4.00 ppb B
Collegeville 2.00 ppb B
Richmond 2.00 ppb B
Rockville Not detected B
Kimball Not detected B
Holdingford Not detected A
Belgrade Not detected B
Freeport Not detected B
Brooten 4.00 ppb B
Le Sauk 2.00 ppb A
Wakefield 3.00 ppb A
New Munich 1.00 ppb B
St. Martin Not detected B
Brockway Not detected B
Paynesville Not detected B
St. Joseph 2.00 ppb B
Lynden Not detected B
Munson 2.00 ppb B
Sauk Centre Not detected B
Roscoe Not detected B
Avon 4.00 ppb B
Fair Haven 2.00 ppb B
Albany Not detected B
Meire Grove Not detected B
Oak 1.00 ppb B
Grove Not detected A
Crow Lake 4.00 ppb B
Holding Not detected A
Melrose Not detected A
Eden Lake 1.00 ppb B
St. Martin Not detected B
North Fork 4.00 ppb B
Maine Prairie Not detected B
Zion Not detected B
Crow River Not detected B
Millwood Not detected B
Showing 46 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Stearns County Drinking Water

Stearns County is served by 29 water systems covering 46 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 18 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.00 ppb — 13% of the federal action level. 28 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

1 of 46 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 6 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stearns County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Stearns County has an open violation on record. 1 of 46 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Stearns County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.00 ppb, 13% of the 15 ppb action level. 28 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Stearns County?▼
29 community water systems serve 46 communities here.
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