Public water system · MN1320002
ActiveHeron Lake
At a glance
Heron Lake (PWSID MN1320002) is an active community water system in Jackson County, Minnesota. It reports serving 691 people through 296 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
691
Service connections
296
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Heron Lake compare with other water systems in Jackson County?
By EPA's size categories, Heron Lake is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Jackson County has 13 active public water systems, and Heron Lake is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 35% above the county average of 512 people per system, and accounts for 10% of the 6,655 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 Heron Lake 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 Heron Lake?
EPA lists Heron Lake 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. 7 of the 13 active systems in Jackson County (54%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Heron Lake have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between October 1988 and July 2025. By type: 2 monitoring and reporting, 1 reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-02 | ReportingNotification, Known or Potential LSL · code 4H | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1994-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Resolved |
All 4 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.
Heron Lake: frequently asked questions
Who runs Heron Lake?
Heron Lake (PWSID MN1320002) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MN state drinking water program.
How many people does Heron Lake serve?
Heron Lake reports serving 691 people through 296 service connections in Jackson County, Minnesota.
Where does Heron Lake 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 Heron Lake have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in July 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 Heron Lake'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 4 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in July 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 Heron Lake's water quality report?
As a community water system, Heron Lake 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 Jackson County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | Jackson | 3,323 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lakefield | Jackson | 1,694 | Community | Groundwater |
| St. Paul Lutheran Church | Jackson | 300 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Okabena | Jackson | 188 | Community | Groundwater |
| Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church | Jackson | 150 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Alpha | Jackson | 112 | 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, “Heron Lake, PWSID MN1320002, Minnesota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/minnesota/heron-lake-mn1320002 (data as of October 1, 2026).