Public water system · SD4600196
ActiveLetcher
At a glance
Letcher (PWSID SD4600196) is an active community water system in Sanborn County, South Dakota. It reports serving 159 people through 105 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 February 2017.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
159
Service connections
105
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Letcher compare with other water systems in Sanborn County?
By EPA's size categories, Letcher is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Sanborn County has 5 active public water systems, and Letcher is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 30% below the county average of 227 people per system, and accounts for 14% of the 1,137 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 Letcher 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 Letcher?
EPA lists Letcher 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 5 active systems in Sanborn County (40%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Letcher have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2017. The violations listed here began between January 1996 and February 2017. By type: 8 monitoring and reporting, 2 required treatment not met, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-02-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-03-15 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-02-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | 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.
Letcher: frequently asked questions
Who runs Letcher?
Letcher (PWSID SD4600196) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Letcher serve?
Letcher reports serving 159 people through 105 service connections in Sanborn County, South Dakota.
Where does Letcher 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 Letcher 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 February 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 Letcher'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 February 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 Letcher's water quality report?
As a community water system, Letcher 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 Sanborn County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woonsocket | Sanborn | 618 | Community | Groundwater |
| Upland Colony | Sanborn | 198 | Community | Groundwater |
| Sanborn Central School District | Sanborn | 125 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Old Whites Drive in | Sanborn | 37 | Transient non-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, “Letcher, PWSID SD4600196, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/letcher-sd4600196 (data as of October 1, 2026).