Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota — public water systems

How does Lake of the Woods County compare with other Minnesota counties?

Lake of the Woods County has the 35th-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 5,031 people served in total, the 79th-largest county figure in the state and less than 0.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 76 people, well 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 Lake of the Woods County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Lake of the Woods County's active systems draw on groundwater (64, 97%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (2, 3%). Overall, all rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and none 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, Baudette, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Lake of the Woods County?

Lake of the Woods County's active systems break down as 2 community systems (3%) and 64 transient non-community systems (97%). 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 (88%), local government (6.1%) and state government (6.1%).