Pennington County, South Dakota — public water systems

How does Pennington County compare with other South Dakota counties?

Pennington County has the most active public water systems among the 73 counties listed for active South Dakota systems in EPA records; among the 48 with 3 or more systems, the median has 6. Its systems report 139,467 people served in total, the 2nd-largest county figure in the state and 14% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 930 people, about 33% below the South Dakota average of 1,387. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Pennington County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Pennington County's active systems draw on groundwater (143, 95%), purchased groundwater (3, 2%), surface water (2, 1.3%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 0.7%). Overall, 98% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 2% on surface water, compared with 76% and 24% across South Dakota. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Rapid City, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Pennington County?

Pennington County's active systems break down as 66 community systems (44%), 5 non-transient non-community systems (3.3%) and 79 transient non-community systems (53%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (89%), local government (8%), federal government (2%) and state government (0.7%).