WaterVerge

Is New London, MN Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A, with 1 unresolved violation on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

1K residents served 1 water system PWSID: MN1340005
Overall Score
93.3 / 100
Violations
1 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased ground water
#100 of 466 in Minnesota Top 6% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
93.3/100
waterverge.com
A 93.3/100

New London, MN — Water Quality Report

New London's drinking water received a grade of A (93.3 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,277 residents using purchased ground 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 10 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 1 remains unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about New London's water

New London ranks #100 out of 466 cities in Minnesota for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

New London purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition.

As a small community water system, New London may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
93.3 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
43.3/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Purchased ground water.
Water Safety

Is New London, MN water safe to drink?

Use Caution

New London's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (93.3/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,277 residents using groundwater (wells).

1
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
5 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for New London

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into New London's water quality assessment. Grade: A (93.3/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Revised Total Coliform Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Chlorine.

Disaster
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3242). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Disaster
SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-1370). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for New London's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

New London's water system has 10 total violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 1 remain unresolved. 1 violation was issued in the last 5 years.

MRMONMCL
Most recent violations:
Oct 2024 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Resolved
Dec 2017 Revised Total Coliform Rule Resolved
Oct 2017 Chlorine Resolved
Oct 2007 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Nov 2003 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Kandiyohi County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1965. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA DR-3242
SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES
Flood FEMA DR-1370
SEVERE FLOODING, HIGH WINDS,SEVERE STORMS
Flood FEMA DR-1175

Where does New London's water come from?

New London's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,277 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What New London residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Monitor alerts during storms

New London's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

10
Total violations
1
Health-based
1
Active / unresolved
Oct 2024
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

10 Total
1 Active
1 Health-based
9 Resolved
Violations by category
Total Coliform Rule
6
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
1
Revised Total Coliform Rule
1
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
1
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Oct 2024 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2024
Dec 2017 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring
Monitoring Resolved Dec 2017
Oct 2017 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2017
Oct 2007 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 2007
Nov 2003 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Nov 2003
May 2002 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved May 2002
Jul 1997 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 1997
Jan 1994 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1994
Apr 1991 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jun 1991
Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

5
Declared disasters
Sep 2005
Most recent
Flood
Most common type

Kandiyohi County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1965. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3242
May 2001
SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES
Flood FEMA #1370
Apr 1997
SEVERE FLOODING, HIGH WINDS,SEVERE STORMS
Flood FEMA #1175
Apr 1969
FLOODING
Flood FEMA #255
Apr 1965
FLOODING
Flood FEMA #188

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level (90th percentile)

Latest reading: 0.0 ppb (2023)

EPA action level: 15 ppb

Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,277
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where New London's water comes from

Purchased Groundwater

New London purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.

Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of New London's local distribution pipes and storage facilities.

Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,277 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving New London

System Name PWSID Population Source
New London MN1340005 1,277 GWP
Regional Comparison

How New London compares

Full Minnesota rankings →

New London's score of 93.3/100 is above the average of 82/100 among major Minnesota cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

New London (this city)
93.3
St. Paul
73.3
Rochester
69.7
Minnesota avg
82
City Profile

About New London, MN

Wikipedia →

New London is a city in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States along the Middle Fork of the Crow River. The population was 1,252 at the 2020 census. Sibley State Park is nearby. It was named after New London, Wisconsin, by Louis Larson because of the similarity he saw with his previous home there. It was incorporated on April 8, 1889. The city was the county seat of Monongalia County from 1866 to 1870 when Monongalia merged with Kandiyohi County.

Economic Profile
$67,105
Median Income
$201,074
Median Home Value
$891/mo
Median Rent
1.1%
Unemployment
Community
37.3
Median Age
356
People / sq mi
34.2%
College Educated
72.9%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is New London, MN tap water safe to drink?

New London's water quality earned a grade of A (93.3/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #100 out of 466 cities tested in Minnesota.

What contaminants are in New London's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 10 violations are on record.

How is New London'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 New London?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does New London's water come from?

New London's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,277 residents.

What health violations has New London's water system had?

New London has 1 health-based violation on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.

Is New London's groundwater at risk of contamination?

New London 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 10 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 New London's water compare to other cities?

New London ranks #100 out of 466 cities in Minnesota (better than 79% of state cities) and #896 out of 15744 cities nationally (94th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does New London's small water system affect quality?

New London's system serves approximately 1,277 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 10 violations on record.