01The verdict: is Hill City water safe?
Hill City's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (85.9/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 633 residents using groundwater (wells).
2 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓1 violation in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Hill City's drinking water received a grade of A- (85.9 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 633 residents using groundwater.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 2 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
Hill City ranks #338 out of 466 cities in Minnesota for water quality, placing it below average in the state. Hill City relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Hill City may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Hill City's water
Every contaminant flagged in Hill City, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Minnesota
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Minnesota
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Hill City's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 2 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
8 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
0ppb(2023)
One sampling round on record — 0% of the 15ppb EPA action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Hill City's water comes from
Hill City's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
633 people
Residents served across Hill City's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 633 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill City | MN1010011 | 633 | Groundwater |
05Pressure on Hill City's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Aitkin County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Aitkin County is in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Hill City compares
Scores for nearby Minnesota cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Minnesota average (82/100)
Hill City scores 85.9/100 — on par with the Minnesota average of 82/100. It outscores 6 of 10 nearby cities. Full Minnesota rankings →
72.8 / 100BSt. Paul, MN
73.3 / 100CRochester, MN
69.7 / 100ABloomington, MN
93.6 / 100BBrooklyn Park, MN
81.5 / 100ADuluth, MN
88.6 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Hill City's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Hill City's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Hill City alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Hill City, MN tap water safe to drink?
Hill City's water quality earned a grade of A- (85.9/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #338 out of 466 cities tested in Minnesota.
What contaminants are in Hill City's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 2 violations are on record.
How is Hill City's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Hill City?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Hill City's water come from?
Hill City's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 633 residents.
Is Hill City's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Hill City uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 2 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Hill City's water compare to other cities?
Hill City ranks #338 out of 466 cities in Minnesota (better than 27% of state cities) and #5015 out of 15382 cities nationally (67th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Hill City's small water system affect quality?
Hill City's system serves approximately 633 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 2 violations on record.