Public water system · SD4600039
ActiveBison
At a glance
Bison (PWSID SD4600039) is an active community water system in Perkins County, South Dakota. It reports serving 310 people through 228 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
310
Service connections
228
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bison compare with other water systems in Perkins County?
By EPA's size categories, Bison is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Perkins County has 3 active public water systems, and Bison is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about half of the county average of 645 people per system, and accounts for 16% of the 1,936 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 Bison 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. South Dakota has 510 active community water systems, 73% of the state's 699 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 142 South Dakota systems (20%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bison?
EPA lists Bison 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. 2 of the 3 active systems in Perkins County (67%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bison have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2024. The violations listed here began between December 2010 and June 2024. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 3 monitoring, 2 required treatment not met and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Revised Total Coliform Rule (3 of them). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-12-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-05-24 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-05-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-02-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | 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.
Bison: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bison?
Bison (PWSID SD4600039) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Bison serve?
Bison reports serving 310 people through 228 service connections in Perkins County, South Dakota.
Where does Bison get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Bison have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2024. 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 Bison'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, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bison's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bison 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 Perkins County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemmon | Perkins | 1,156 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Perkins County Rural Water | Perkins | 470 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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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, “Bison, PWSID SD4600039, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/bison-sd4600039 (data as of October 1, 2026).