Howard Lake, MN Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Howard Lake PWSID: MN1860010 Updated: 2026 Q2

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Lead above the federal action level

Lead is 15.00 ppb, 100% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS has never been sampled at this system.

Howard Lake earns a D for water quality

Graded on violations and lead, with state inspection findings. PFAS not tested.

Lead: 15.00 ppb — 100% of the federal action level

PFAS never sampled at this system

1 violations since 2015, 0 health-based

No violations currently open

Howard Lake's lead level vs. all Minnesota community water systems

0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb

Lead level: 15.00 ppb — 100% of the federal action level

✓ Lower lead than 1% of Minnesota utilities

Population Served

2071

~1120 connections

Water Source

Groundwater

Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW

Active Violations

1 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)

90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system

100% of EPA action level

15.00 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.

103.8% of EPA action level

1,350 ppb

Action level: 1,300 ppb

The 90th-percentile lead result is 15.00 ppb, 100% 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)

Contaminant	Type	Measured	Limit	Period	Status
Lead and Copper Rule	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	TT	2022	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

1 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Howard Lake

PWSID MN1860010

Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW

Population served 2,071

Service connections 1,120

Systems serving this area 1

Regulator State primacy agency

Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Howard Lake tap water safe to drink? ▼

No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 15.00 ppb, 100% of the action level.

Does Howard Lake water have PFAS? ▼

This system has never been sampled for PFAS. EPA's national monitoring covered systems serving 3,300 people or more, so no results exist — which is not evidence that none is present.

Who supplies water to Howard Lake? ▼

Howard Lake (PWSID MN1860010). Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW

When was this system last inspected? ▼

It was last inspected on 2025-05-29. Inspectors recorded 1 significant deficiency.

What Should Howard Lake Residents Do?

Consider a filter certified for lead

Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.

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.

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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