Public water system · MN1830001
ActiveButterfield
At a glance
Butterfield (PWSID MN1830001) is an active community water system in Watonwan County, Minnesota. It reports serving 586 people through 260 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in April 1999.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
586
Service connections
260
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Butterfield compare with other water systems in Watonwan County?
By EPA's size categories, Butterfield is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Watonwan County has 12 active public water systems, and Butterfield is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 16% below the county average of 695 people per system, and accounts for 7% of the 8,336 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 Butterfield 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. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 89 Minnesota systems (1.4%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Butterfield?
EPA lists Butterfield 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. 9 of the 12 active systems in Watonwan County (75%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Butterfield have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in April 1999. The violations listed here began between April 1999 and April 1999. By type: 2 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminants or rules involved are Combined Radium (-226 and -228) and Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium). EPA lists 2 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1999-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | Yes | Resolved |
All 2 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Butterfield: frequently asked questions
Who runs Butterfield?
Butterfield (PWSID MN1830001) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MN state drinking water program.
How many people does Butterfield serve?
Butterfield reports serving 586 people through 260 service connections in Watonwan County, Minnesota.
Where does Butterfield get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Butterfield have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in April 1999. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Butterfield's 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 records list 2 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in April 1999. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MN state drinking water program.
Where can I find Butterfield's water quality report?
As a community water system, Butterfield 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 Watonwan County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint James | Watonwan | 4,611 | Community | Groundwater |
| Madelia | Watonwan | 2,319 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lewisville | Watonwan | 225 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Ormsby | Watonwan | 129 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Odin | Watonwan | 109 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| St. James Golf Course/River'S Edge Grill | Watonwan | 100 | 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, “Butterfield, PWSID MN1830001, Minnesota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/minnesota/butterfield-mn1830001 (data as of October 1, 2026).