Public water system · SD4600037
ActiveBelle Fourche
At a glance
Belle Fourche (PWSID SD4600037) is an active community water system in Butte County, South Dakota. It reports serving 5,617 people through 2,343 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2017.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
5,617
Service connections
2,343
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Belle Fourche compare with other water systems in Butte County?
By EPA's size categories, Belle Fourche is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Butte County has 10 active public water systems, and Belle Fourche is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 6.3 times the county average of 897 people per system, and accounts for 63% of the 8,972 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across South Dakota, the 699 active systems average 1,387 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Belle Fourche is about 16% 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. South Dakota has 510 active community water systems, 73% of the state's 699 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 431 South Dakota systems (62%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Belle Fourche?
EPA lists Belle Fourche as owned by a local government. The SD state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 6 of the 10 active systems in Butte County (60%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Belle Fourche have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2017. The violations listed here began between January 1996 and October 2017. By type: 11 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminants or rules involved are Lead and Copper Rule, Total coliform bacteria (TCR), Ethylbenzene and 1,2-Dichloroethane. EPA lists 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Ethylbenzenecode 2992 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,2-Dichloroethanecode 2980 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Toluenecode 2991 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,1,1-Trichloroethanecode 2981 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Trichloroethylenecode 2984 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,1-Dichloroethylenecode 2977 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Styrenecode 2996 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,1,2-Trichloroethanecode 2985 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Xylenes, Totalcode 2955 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
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.
Belle Fourche: frequently asked questions
Who runs Belle Fourche?
Belle Fourche (PWSID SD4600037) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Belle Fourche serve?
Belle Fourche reports serving 5,617 people through 2,343 service connections in Butte County, South Dakota.
Where does Belle Fourche 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 Belle Fourche have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2017. 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 Belle Fourche'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, one is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2017. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Belle Fourche's water quality report?
As a community water system, Belle Fourche 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 Butte County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butte-Meade Swd-Bean Well | Butte + 1 more | 1,481 | Community | Groundwater |
| Newell | Butte | 583 | Community | Groundwater |
| Butte-Meade Swd-Vale Well | Butte + 1 more | 357 | Community | Groundwater |
| Hay Creek Water Company | Butte | 323 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Nisland | Butte | 206 | Community | Groundwater |
| Black Hills Water Distribution, LLC | Butte | 135 | 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, “Belle Fourche, PWSID SD4600037, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/belle-fourche-sd4600037 (data as of October 1, 2026).