Public water system · MN1530005
ActiveEllsworth
At a glance
Ellsworth (PWSID MN1530005) is an active community water system in Nobles County, Minnesota. It reports serving 462 people through 253 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
462
Service connections
253
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Ellsworth compare with other water systems in Nobles County?
By EPA's size categories, Ellsworth is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Nobles County has 15 active public water systems, and Ellsworth is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 62% below the county average of 1,220 people per system, and accounts for 2.5% of the 18,302 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 Ellsworth 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 surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 37 Minnesota systems (0.6%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Ellsworth?
EPA lists Ellsworth 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. 12 of the 15 active systems in Nobles County (80%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Ellsworth have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between July 1986 and October 2024. By type: 7 contaminant level above the legal limit and 4 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Nitrate (5 of them). EPA lists 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2019-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1986-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
All 11 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.
Ellsworth: frequently asked questions
Who runs Ellsworth?
Ellsworth (PWSID MN1530005) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MN state drinking water program.
How many people does Ellsworth serve?
Ellsworth reports serving 462 people through 253 service connections in Nobles County, Minnesota.
Where does Ellsworth get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Ellsworth have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. 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 Ellsworth'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 11 violations for this system; 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MN state drinking water program.
Where can I find Ellsworth's water quality report?
As a community water system, Ellsworth 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 Nobles County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worthington | Nobles | 14,052 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Adrian | Nobles | 1,211 | Community | Groundwater |
| Brewster | Nobles | 506 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Round Lake | Nobles | 376 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Wilmont | Nobles | 344 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Rushmore | Nobles | 342 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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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, “Ellsworth, PWSID MN1530005, Minnesota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/minnesota/ellsworth-mn1530005 (data as of October 1, 2026).