Public water system · MN1130014
ActiveShafer
At a glance
Shafer (PWSID MN1130014) is an active community water system in Chisago County, Minnesota. It reports serving 1,165 people through 449 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2000.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,165
Service connections
449
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Shafer compare with other water systems in Chisago County?
By EPA's size categories, Shafer is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Chisago County has 104 active public water systems. Its population served is about 187% above the county average of 406 people per system, and accounts for 2.8% of the 42,180 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 Shafer 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 6,261 Minnesota systems (97%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Shafer?
EPA lists Shafer 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. 17 of the 104 active systems in Chisago County (16%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Shafer have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2000. The violations listed here began between July 1997 and August 2000. By type: 2 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (2 of them). EPA lists 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 2 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.
Shafer: frequently asked questions
Who runs Shafer?
Shafer (PWSID MN1130014) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MN state drinking water program.
How many people does Shafer serve?
Shafer reports serving 1,165 people through 449 service connections in Chisago County, Minnesota.
Where does Shafer get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Shafer have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2000. 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 Shafer'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 2 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2000. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MN state drinking water program.
Where can I find Shafer's water quality report?
As a community water system, Shafer 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 Chisago County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Branch | Chisago | 6,863 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lindstrom | Chisago | 4,938 | Community | Groundwater |
| Wyoming | Chisago | 3,990 | Community | Groundwater |
| Chisago City | Chisago | 3,745 | Community | Groundwater |
| Rush City | Chisago | 3,339 | Community | Groundwater |
| Interstate State Park | Chisago | 2,000 | 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, “Shafer, PWSID MN1130014, Minnesota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/minnesota/shafer-mn1130014 (data as of October 1, 2026).