Koochiching County, Minnesota — public water systems

How does Koochiching County compare with other Minnesota counties?

Koochiching County has the 53rd-most active public water systems among the 94 counties listed for active Minnesota systems in EPA records; among the 87 with 3 or more systems, the median has 49. Its systems report 9,442 people served in total, the 62nd-largest county figure in the state and 0.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 286 people, about 65% below the Minnesota average of 820. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Koochiching County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Koochiching County's active systems draw on groundwater (20, 61%), purchased surface water (7, 21%), surface water (5, 15%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 3%). Overall, 64% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 36% on surface water, compared with 98% and 1.5% across Minnesota. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, International Falls, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Koochiching County?

Koochiching County's active systems break down as 5 community systems (15%) and 28 transient non-community systems (85%). 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. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (67%), local government (27%), state government (3%) and federal government (3%).