Public water system · MN1370003
ActiveDawson
At a glance
Dawson (PWSID MN1370003) is an active community water system in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. It reports serving 1,466 people through 762 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,466
Service connections
762
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Dawson compare with other water systems in Lac qui Parle County?
By EPA's size categories, Dawson is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Lac qui Parle County has 23 active public water systems, and Dawson is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 5.6 times the county average of 260 people per system, and accounts for 24% of the 5,986 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 Dawson 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 Dawson?
EPA lists Dawson 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 23 active systems in Lac qui Parle County (35%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Dawson have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2025. The violations listed here began between February 1992 and May 2025. By type: 3 monitoring and reporting, 1 monitoring and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 of them). EPA lists 3 as resolved and 2 as archived. 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. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 1998-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1992-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
All 5 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.
Dawson: frequently asked questions
Who runs Dawson?
Dawson (PWSID MN1370003) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MN state drinking water program.
How many people does Dawson serve?
Dawson reports serving 1,466 people through 762 service connections in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota.
Where does Dawson 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 Dawson have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2025. 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 Dawson'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 5 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MN state drinking water program.
Where can I find Dawson's water quality report?
As a community water system, Dawson 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 Lac qui Parle County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | Lac qui Parle | 1,511 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lac Qui Parle Valley School | Lac qui Parle | 800 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Our Savior'S Lutheran of Baxter | Lac qui Parle | 300 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| St. Joseph Catholic Church | Lac qui Parle | 225 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Lac Qui Parle State Park | Lac qui Parle | 195 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Borgund Lutheran Church | Lac qui Parle | 175 | 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, “Dawson, PWSID MN1370003, Minnesota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/minnesota/dawson-mn1370003 (data as of October 1, 2026).