Public water system · SD4600045
ActiveBonesteel
At a glance
Bonesteel (PWSID SD4600045) is an active community water system in Gregory County, South Dakota. It reports serving 275 people through 170 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2014.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
275
Service connections
170
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bonesteel compare with other water systems in Gregory County?
By EPA's size categories, Bonesteel is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Gregory County has 4 active public water systems, and Bonesteel is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about half of the county average of 540 people per system, and accounts for 13% of the 2,160 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 Bonesteel 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 groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 100 South Dakota systems (14%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bonesteel?
EPA lists Bonesteel 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. 4 of the 4 active systems in Gregory County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bonesteel have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2014. The violations listed here began between March 2001 and October 2014. By type: 6 contaminant level above the legal limit, 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 2 monitoring and reporting and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-10-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-10-13 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2007-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2004-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-03-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | 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.
Bonesteel: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bonesteel?
Bonesteel (PWSID SD4600045) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Bonesteel serve?
Bonesteel reports serving 275 people through 170 service connections in Gregory County, South Dakota.
Where does Bonesteel get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Bonesteel have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2014. 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 Bonesteel'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, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2014. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bonesteel's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bonesteel 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 Gregory County
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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, “Bonesteel, PWSID SD4600045, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/bonesteel-sd4600045 (data as of October 1, 2026).