Public water system · MN1800004
ActiveWadena
At a glance
Wadena (PWSID MN1800004) is an active community water system in Wadena County, Minnesota. It reports serving 4,332 people through 1,841 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is not health-based, and the most recent began in January 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
4,332
Service connections
1,841
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Wadena compare with other water systems in Wadena County?
By EPA's size categories, Wadena is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Wadena County has 43 active public water systems, and Wadena is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 22 times the county average of 194 people per system, and accounts for 52% of the 8,338 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 Wadena is about 35% 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 Wadena?
EPA lists Wadena 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. 14 of the 43 active systems in Wadena County (33%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Wadena have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is not health-based, and the most recent began in January 2025. By type: 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved is Lead and Copper Rule. EPA lists 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
The one violation in EPA's records.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.
Wadena: frequently asked questions
Who runs Wadena?
Wadena (PWSID MN1800004) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MN state drinking water program.
How many people does Wadena serve?
Wadena reports serving 4,332 people through 1,841 service connections in Wadena County, Minnesota.
Where does Wadena 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 Wadena have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is not health-based, and the most recent began in January 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 Wadena'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 one violation for this system; it is not health-based, and the most recent began in January 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 Wadena's water quality report?
As a community water system, Wadena 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 Wadena County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menahga | Wadena | 1,347 | Community | Groundwater |
| Sebeka | Wadena | 742 | Community | Groundwater |
| Verndale | Wadena | 506 | Community | Groundwater |
| Verndale School | Wadena | 100 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Bethany Free Lutheran Church | Wadena | 90 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Thomastown Covenant Church | Wadena | 80 | 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, “Wadena, PWSID MN1800004, Minnesota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/minnesota/wadena-mn1800004 (data as of October 1, 2026).