States › South Dakota › Custer County

Custer County, SD Water Quality

Water quality data for 4 public water systems serving Custer County, South Dakota — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 4 water systems · 5 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Custer County Earns a B

Custer County: 5 communities across 4 water systems. 80.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.00 ppb
  • 5 communities with a lead detection, 0 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 0 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 80.0% of communities have no open violations
2 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
4
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
80%
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
  • Pringle
    2.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Fairburn
    2.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Hermosa
    7.00 ppb
    Lead at 7.00 ppb, above a third of the action level
    B
  • Custer
    2.00 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Buffalo Gap
    2.00 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Buffalo Gap
    2.00 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Custer
    2.00 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Hermosa
    7.00 ppb
    Lead at 7.00 ppb, above a third of the action level
    B
  • Pringle
    2.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Fairburn
    2.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    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
4
5 – 10 ppb
1

All Cities in Custer County

Custer 2.00 ppb B
Hermosa 7.00 ppb B
Pringle 2.00 ppb B
Buffalo Gap 2.00 ppb D
Fairburn 2.00 ppb B
Showing 5 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Custer County Drinking Water

Custer County is served by 4 water systems covering 5 communities. 80% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 5 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.00 ppb — 13% of the federal action level. 0 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 no significant deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Custer County tap water safe to drink?▼
80% of communities have no open violation. No community has PFAS above the federal limit on record.
What is the lead level in Custer County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.00 ppb, 13% of the 15 ppb action level. 0 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Custer County?▼
4 community water systems serve 5 communities here.
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