Public water system · MN1110002
ActiveBackus
At a glance
Backus (PWSID MN1110002) is an active community water system in Cass County, Minnesota. It reports serving 267 people through 182 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act records list no violations for this system.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
267
Service connections
182
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Backus compare with other water systems in Cass County?
By EPA's size categories, Backus is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Cass County has 248 active public water systems. Its population served is about 172% above the county average of 98 people per system, and accounts for 1.1% of the 24,374 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Minnesota, the 6,465 active systems average 820 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Backus is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Minnesota has 987 active community water systems, 15% of the state's 6,465 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 6,261 Minnesota systems (97%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Backus?
EPA lists Backus as owned by a local government. The MN state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 8 of the 248 active systems in Cass County (3.2%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Backus have drinking water violations?
No SDWA violations on record.
EPA's SDWA violation and enforcement data (via EPA ECHO, updated quarterly) lists no violations for Backus. For the latest compliance status, check EPA ECHO for current compliance history.
Backus: frequently asked questions
Who runs Backus?
Backus (PWSID MN1110002) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MN state drinking water program.
How many people does Backus serve?
Backus reports serving 267 people through 182 service connections in Cass County, Minnesota.
Where does Backus get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Backus have any drinking water violations?
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act records list no violations for this system.
Is Backus' water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act records list no violations for this system. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MN state drinking water program.
Where can I find Backus' water quality report?
As a community water system, Backus must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Cass County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker | Cass | 990 | Community | Groundwater |
| Pine River | Cass | 939 | Community | Groundwater |
| Cass Lake Wayside Rest Mndot | Cass | 873 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Cass Lake | Cass | 691 | Community | Groundwater |
| Pillager | Cass | 523 | Community | Groundwater |
| Y Mart | Cass | 500 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Backus, PWSID MN1110002, Minnesota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/minnesota/backus-mn1110002 (data as of October 1, 2026).