Lead Contamination

Lead in South Dakota Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

137

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

2.4 ppb

State Avg

▼ 2% vs national

vs National

113

Health Violations

Analysis

Lead in South Dakota: what the data shows

South Dakota has 137 cities with lead monitoring data, with no cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 2.4 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. No cities in South Dakota currently exceed the 15 ppb lead action level. However, even levels below the action level can pose health risks, particularly for infants and young children. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

South Dakota

0 of 137 cities

← ▼ 2% below national rate (better)

National avg

352 of 15325 cities

City Map

Lead data across South Dakota

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in South Dakota

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

All Cities

All South Dakota cities ranked by lead level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Platte	14.0 ppb	No	5	B
2	Toronto	13.0 ppb	No	0	A-
3	Clear Lake	13.0 ppb	No	0	B+
4	Woonsocket	13.0 ppb	No	6	B
5	Scotland	8.0 ppb	No	7	B
6	Centerville	8.0 ppb	No	6	A-
7	Fort Meade	8.0 ppb	No	2	A-
8	Flandreau	7.7 ppb	No	19	C
9	Piedmont	7.0 ppb	No	171	F
10	Martin	7.0 ppb	No	28	C
11	Lake Preston	7.0 ppb	No	4	B
12	Redfield	6.0 ppb	No	1	A-
13	Menno	6.0 ppb	No	0	A-
14	Sisseton	5.0 ppb	No	0	A
15	Gettysburg	5.0 ppb	No	0	A
16	Elkton	5.0 ppb	No	10	A-
17	Corsica	5.0 ppb	No	5	B+
18	Watertown	4.0 ppb	No	2	A
19	Goodwin	4.0 ppb	No	1	A
20	Dakota Dunes	4.0 ppb	No	0	A-
21	Kimball	4.0 ppb	No	8	B
22	North Sioux City	4.0 ppb	No	0	A
23	Ridgeview	4.0 ppb	No	15	A-
24	Howard	4.0 ppb	No	0	B+
25	Eureka	4.0 ppb	No	4	B
26	Armour	4.0 ppb	No	4	A
27	Brookings	3.0 ppb	No	11	D
28	Arlington	3.0 ppb	No	5	C
29	Winner	3.0 ppb	No	4	A
30	Canton	3.0 ppb	No	0	A+
31	Chamberlain	3.0 ppb	No	11	A-
32	Webster	3.0 ppb	No	2	A
33	Parkston	3.0 ppb	No	4	B+
34	Groton	3.0 ppb	No	0	A
35	Salem	3.0 ppb	No	5	A
36	Gregory	3.0 ppb	No	2	A
37	Estelline	3.0 ppb	No	22	A-
38	Colman	3.0 ppb	No	5	A
39	Aberdeen	2.0 ppb	No	197	F
40	Miller	2.0 ppb	No	34	C+
41	Spearfish	2.0 ppb	No	166	D
42	Box Elder	2.0 ppb	No	17	B-
43	Milbank	2.0 ppb	No	0	B+
44	Murdo	2.0 ppb	No	2	A-
45	Britton	2.0 ppb	No	37	C
46	Madison	2.0 ppb	No	9	A+
47	Hamill	2.0 ppb	No	1	A+
48	Mobridge	2.0 ppb	No	3	B+
49	Volga	2.0 ppb	No	0	A
50	Fort Pierre	2.0 ppb	No	5	B+
51	Elk Point	2.0 ppb	No	1	A
52	Philip	2.0 ppb	No	24	A
53	Custer	2.0 ppb	No	0	A
54	Aurora	2.0 ppb	No	3	A
55	Tyndall	2.0 ppb	No	2	A
56	New Underwood	2.0 ppb	No	63	C+
57	Mina	2.0 ppb	No	4	A
58	Viborg	2.0 ppb	No	6	B+
59	Plankinton	2.0 ppb	No	13	A
60	Wall	2.0 ppb	No	7	A-
61	Onida	2.0 ppb	No	16	A-
62	Canistota	2.0 ppb	No	1	A-
63	Tripp	2.0 ppb	No	3	A
64	Mclaughlin	2.0 ppb	No	0	A-
65	Hermosa	2.0 ppb	No	9	B
66	Kadoka	2.0 ppb	No	8	A
67	Pierre	1.4 ppb	No	8	A-
68	Sioux Falls	1.0 ppb	No	30	C-
69	Rapid City	1.0 ppb	No	349	F
70	Mitchell	1.0 ppb	No	6	A-
71	Dell Rapids	1.0 ppb	No	2	A
72	Tabor	1.0 ppb	No	4	A-
73	Vermillion	1.0 ppb	No	0	A
74	Brandon	1.0 ppb	No	0	A-
75	Harrisburg	1.0 ppb	No	0	A
76	Ellsworth Afb	1.0 ppb	No	4	A
77	Black Hawk	1.0 ppb	No	350	D+
78	Sturgis	1.0 ppb	No	156	D+
79	Beresford	1.0 ppb	No	19	B
80	Tea	1.0 ppb	No	1	A
81	Wakonda	1.0 ppb	No	4	B+
82	Belle Fourche	1.0 ppb	No	7	B
83	Parker	1.0 ppb	No	3	A-
84	Hot Springs	1.0 ppb	No	22	B-
85	Hartford	1.0 ppb	No	1	A
86	Lead	1.0 ppb	No	18	B
87	Batesland	1.0 ppb	No	21	B-
88	Lennox	1.0 ppb	No	2	A
89	Wagner	1.0 ppb	No	8	D
90	Newell	1.0 ppb	No	38	A-
91	Springfield	1.0 ppb	No	12	A-
92	Crooks	1.0 ppb	No	0	A
93	Freeman	1.0 ppb	No	2	A-
94	Baltic	1.0 ppb	No	1	A
95	Garretson	1.0 ppb	No	54	B+
96	Deadwood	1.0 ppb	No	84	C
97	Faulkton	1.0 ppb	No	25	B
98	Ipswich	1.0 ppb	No	1	A-
99	Oral	1.0 ppb	No	3	A-
100	De Smet	1.0 ppb	No	6	A
101	Hill City	1.0 ppb	No	4	A-
102	Whitewood	1.0 ppb	No	0	B+
103	Worthing	1.0 ppb	No	7	B+
104	Wessington Springs	1.0 ppb	No	1	B+
105	Marion	1.0 ppb	No	0	A-
106	Alcester	1.0 ppb	No	0	A-
107	Bison	1.0 ppb	No	6	A-
108	Edgemont	1.0 ppb	No	46	D+
109	Colton	1.0 ppb	No	4	A
110	Castlewood	1.0 ppb	No	4	A-
111	Highmore	1.0 ppb	No	11	A-
112	Alexandria	1.0 ppb	No	3	B
113	Selby	1.0 ppb	No	5	B
114	Avon	1.0 ppb	No	3	A-
115	Humboldt	1.0 ppb	No	5	A-
116	Burke	1.0 ppb	No	0	A
117	Lake Norden	1.0 ppb	No	1	A
118	White River	1.0 ppb	No	5	A-
119	Bridgewater	1.0 ppb	No	0	A
120	Rosebud	0.9 ppb	No	18	F
121	Lower Brule	0.6 ppb	No	7	B+
122	Mission	0.6 ppb	No	2	B+
123	Stephan	0.5 ppb	No	1	B+
124	Agency Village	0.4 ppb	No	8	B
125	Fort Thompson	0.2 ppb	No	17	C
126	Pine Ridge	0.0 ppb	No	138	F
127	Yankton	0.0 ppb	No	29	B-
128	Huron	0.0 ppb	No	9	C
129	Lake Andes	0.0 ppb	No	12	B
130	Egan	0.0 ppb	No	11	B+
131	Eagle Butte	0.0 ppb	No	18	B-
132	Clark	0.0 ppb	No	2	A-
133	Emery	0.0 ppb	No	2	B+
134	Fulton	0.0 ppb	No	0	A-
135	Lemmon	0.0 ppb	No	1	A
136	Valley Springs	0.0 ppb	No	5	A-
137	White	0.0 ppb	No	1	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in South Dakota

Is lead in South Dakota tap water a concern?

Currently, no cities in South Dakota exceed the 15 ppb EPA lead action level. The state average is 2.4 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from South Dakota tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which South Dakota cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in South Dakota are: Platte (14.0 ppb), Toronto (13.0 ppb), Clear Lake (13.0 ppb), Woonsocket (13.0 ppb), Scotland (8.0 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

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