01The verdict: is Hoyt Lakes water safe?
Hoyt Lakes's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (90.4/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,020 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
1 unresolved violation on record
EPA records show an open compliance item 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 ↓Check back after the next refresh
EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.
Get alerts ↓Hoyt Lakes's drinking water received a grade of A (90.4 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,020 residents using surface water.
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 3 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
Hoyt Lakes ranks #202 out of 466 cities in Minnesota for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Hoyt Lakes may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Hoyt Lakes's water
Every contaminant flagged in Hoyt Lakes, 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
03Hoyt Lakes'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 3 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
9 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 Hoyt Lakes's water comes from
Hoyt Lakes's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
2,020 people
Residents served across Hoyt Lakes's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,020 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoyt Lakes | MN1690028 | 2,020 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Hoyt Lakes
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Hoyt Lakes's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Hoyt Lakes'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.
Drought
Saint Louis 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 Hoyt Lakes compares
Scores for nearby Minnesota cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Minnesota average (82/100)
Hoyt Lakes scores 90.4/100 — above the Minnesota average of 82/100. It outscores 9 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 Hoyt Lakes's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Hoyt Lakes'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 Hoyt Lakes alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Hoyt Lakes, MN tap water safe to drink?
Hoyt Lakes's water quality earned a grade of A (90.4/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #202 out of 466 cities tested in Minnesota.
What contaminants are in Hoyt Lakes's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 3 violations are on record.
How is Hoyt Lakes'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 Hoyt Lakes?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Hoyt Lakes's water come from?
Hoyt Lakes's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,020 residents.
How does Hoyt Lakes's water compare to other cities?
Hoyt Lakes ranks #202 out of 466 cities in Minnesota (better than 57% of state cities) and #2227 out of 15382 cities nationally (86th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Hoyt Lakes's small water system affect quality?
Hoyt Lakes's system serves approximately 2,020 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 3 violations on record.