Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Saint Paul, MN tap water
20 contaminants were measured in the Saint Paul, MN water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 20
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- MN
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in Saint Paul, MN
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.9×)PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitPFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Saint Paul, MN's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 8 sources.
Source
- WELL · 5
- WELL #2 ENTRY POINT
- WELL #6 ENTRY POINT
- WELL #7 ENTRY POINT
Treatment
- Well #1 Entry Point
- Well #3 Entry Point
- Well #4 Entry Point
- + 2 more
Distribution
Also buys water from Saint Paul Regional Water Services, Inver Grove Heights.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based6 violations on record · most recent Jan 2020resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 11.9 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detected Test Results, Number of Homes with High Levels
| |||
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.05 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detected Test Results, Number of Homes with High Levels
| |||
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 26.6 mg/LMaximumAverage Results or Highest Single Test Result | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 2.56–3.11 mg/LRangeRange Detected | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 16.1–43 ug/LRangeRange Detected | None set | Within the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 28.1–52.3 ug/LRangeRange Detected | None set | Within the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 0–1.8 ng/LRangeof Detected Test Results | 4 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0–0.37 ng/LRangeof Detected Test Results | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0–1.5 ng/LRangeof Detected Test Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.67–0.74 mg/LRangeRange Detected | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.08 mg/LHighest single sampleAverage or Single Test Result | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 21.3 mg/LMaximumAverage Results or Highest Single Test Result | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.142 NTUMaximumTest Result | None set | Within the limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 48AveragePercent of Removal Achieved | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— of Percent Removal Achieved, Percent of Removal Achieved
| |||
People also ask about Saint Paul, MN's water
+Is Saint Paul, MN tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 20 contaminants measured in Saint Paul, MN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Saint Paul, MN tap water?
20 contaminants were measured in Saint Paul, MN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), inorganic chemicals, and metals. 5 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Saint Paul, MN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Saint Paul, MN's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.