Public water system · MN1590003
ActiveIhlen
At a glance
Ihlen (PWSID MN1590003) is an active community water system in Pipestone County, Minnesota. It reports serving 63 people through 46 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 1993.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
63
Service connections
46
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Ihlen compare with other water systems in Pipestone County?
By EPA's size categories, Ihlen is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Pipestone County has 12 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 597 people per system, and accounts for 0.9% of the 7,166 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 Ihlen 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 Ihlen?
EPA lists Ihlen 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 Pipestone County (75%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Ihlen have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 1993. The violations listed here began between October 1980 and July 1993. By type: 9 contaminant level above the legal limit and 3 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Nitrate (8 of them). EPA lists 10 as archived and 2 as resolved. 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1993-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1992-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1989-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 1987-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1985-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 1984-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 1983-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 1982-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 1981-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 1980-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
The 12 most recent 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.
Ihlen: frequently asked questions
Who runs Ihlen?
Ihlen (PWSID MN1590003) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MN state drinking water program.
How many people does Ihlen serve?
Ihlen reports serving 63 people through 46 service connections in Pipestone County, Minnesota.
Where does Ihlen 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 Ihlen have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 1993. 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 Ihlen'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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 1993. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MN state drinking water program.
Where can I find Ihlen's water quality report?
As a community water system, Ihlen 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 Pipestone County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipestone | Pipestone | 4,273 | Community | Groundwater |
| Edgerton | Pipestone | 1,281 | Community | Groundwater |
| Jasper | Pipestone | 623 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Ruthton | Pipestone | 220 | Community | Groundwater |
| Holland | Pipestone | 187 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Split Rock Creek State Park | Pipestone | 156 | 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, “Ihlen, PWSID MN1590003, Minnesota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/minnesota/ihlen-mn1590003 (data as of October 1, 2026).