Public water system · SD4600008
ActiveBowdle
At a glance
Bowdle (PWSID SD4600008) is an active community water system in Edmunds County, South Dakota. It reports serving 470 people through 285 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, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
470
Service connections
285
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bowdle compare with other water systems in Edmunds County?
By EPA's size categories, Bowdle is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Edmunds County has 6 active public water systems, and Bowdle is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is roughly in line with the county average of 453 people per system, and accounts for 17% of the 2,720 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 Bowdle 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 Bowdle?
EPA lists Bowdle 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. 5 of the 6 active systems in Edmunds County (83%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bowdle have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026. The violations listed here began between July 1976 and February 2026. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 monitoring, 1 required treatment not met and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 6 as archived and 6 as resolved. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Archived |
| 2026-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Archived |
| 2009-01-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2004-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 1991-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1991-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1991-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1991-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1991-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1991-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1976-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | No | Archived |
| 1976-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | No | Archived |
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.
Bowdle: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bowdle?
Bowdle (PWSID SD4600008) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Bowdle serve?
Bowdle reports serving 470 people through 285 service connections in Edmunds County, South Dakota.
Where does Bowdle 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 Bowdle have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026. 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 Bowdle'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, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bowdle's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bowdle 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 Edmunds County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich | Edmunds | 928 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Mina Lake Sanitary District | Edmunds | 863 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Roscoe | Edmunds | 269 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Hosmer | Edmunds | 164 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Boulder Colony | Edmunds | 26 | 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, “Bowdle, PWSID SD4600008, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/bowdle-sd4600008 (data as of October 1, 2026).