01The verdict: is Silver Bay water safe?
Silver Bay's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (88.8/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,826 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 ↓3 violations 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 ↓Silver Bay's drinking water received a grade of A- (88.8 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,826 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 4 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
Silver Bay ranks #254 out of 466 cities in Minnesota for water quality, placing it below average 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, Silver Bay may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Silver Bay's water
Every contaminant flagged in Silver Bay, 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
03Silver Bay'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 4 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains 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 Silver Bay's water comes from
Silver Bay'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.
1,826 people
Residents served across Silver Bay'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 1,826 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Bay | MN1380003 | 1,826 | Surface Water |
05Pressure on Silver Bay'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 Lake County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Silver Bay compares
Scores for nearby Minnesota cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Minnesota average (82/100)
Silver Bay scores 88.8/100 — above the Minnesota average of 82/100. It outscores 8 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 Silver Bay's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Silver Bay'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 Silver Bay 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 Silver Bay, MN tap water safe to drink?
Silver Bay's water quality earned a grade of A- (88.8/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #254 out of 466 cities tested in Minnesota.
What contaminants are in Silver Bay's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 4 violations are on record.
How is Silver Bay'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 Silver Bay?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Silver Bay's water come from?
Silver Bay's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,826 residents.
How does Silver Bay's water compare to other cities?
Silver Bay ranks #254 out of 466 cities in Minnesota (better than 45% of state cities) and #3224 out of 15382 cities nationally (79th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Silver Bay's small water system affect quality?
Silver Bay's system serves approximately 1,826 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 4 violations on record.