Public water system · SD4600105
ActiveDell Rapids
At a glance
Dell Rapids (PWSID SD4600105) is an active community water system in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. It reports serving 3,633 people through 1,430 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2016.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
3,633
Service connections
1,430
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Dell Rapids compare with other water systems in Minnehaha County?
By EPA's size categories, Dell Rapids is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Minnehaha County has 15 active public water systems, and Dell Rapids is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is well below the county average of 16,983 people per system, and accounts for 1.4% of the 254,737 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 Dell Rapids is about half of 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 Dell Rapids?
EPA lists Dell Rapids 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. 10 of the 15 active systems in Minnehaha County (67%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Dell Rapids have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2016. The violations listed here began between July 1976 and February 2016. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (2 of them). EPA lists 3 as resolved and 2 as archived. 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. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-10-01 | 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 |
All 5 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.
Dell Rapids: frequently asked questions
Who runs Dell Rapids?
Dell Rapids (PWSID SD4600105) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Dell Rapids serve?
Dell Rapids reports serving 3,633 people through 1,430 service connections in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.
Where does Dell Rapids 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 Dell Rapids have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2016. 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 Dell Rapids' 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 5 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2016. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Dell Rapids' water quality report?
As a community water system, Dell Rapids 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 Minnehaha County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | Minnehaha | 216,462 | Community | Surface water |
| Minnehaha Community Water Corp | Minnehaha + 2 more | 13,435 | Community | Groundwater |
| Brandon | Minnehaha | 11,048 | Community | Groundwater |
| Hartford | Minnehaha | 3,396 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Crooks | Minnehaha | 1,362 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Baltic | Minnehaha | 1,271 | Community | Purchased 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, “Dell Rapids, PWSID SD4600105, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/dell-rapids-sd4600105 (data as of October 1, 2026).