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Potter County, South Dakota — public water systems

At a glance

4 active public water systems are filed under Potter County, South Dakota in EPA's SDWIS records, together reporting 1,594 people served. The largest is Gettysburg, which reports serving 1,162 people. 3 are community water systems serving people where they live; the other 1 are non-community systems, such as schools, workplaces, campgrounds and gas stations with their own supply.

Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO, refreshed quarterly.

Active systems

4

Population served

1.6K

Community systems

3

Groundwater share

25%

How does Potter County compare with other South Dakota counties?

Potter County has the 38th-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 1,594 people served in total, the 44th-largest county figure in the state and 0.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 399 people, well 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 Potter County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Potter County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (3, 75%) and groundwater (1, 25%). Overall, 25% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 75% on surface water, compared with 76% and 24% across South Dakota. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, Gettysburg, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Potter County?

Potter County's active systems break down as 3 community systems (75%) and 1 transient non-community systems (25%). 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 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 local government (75%) and private (25%).

Water systems in Potter County

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Active public water systems in Potter County, South Dakota
#Water systemCountyPopulation servedTypeSource
1GettysburgPotter1,162CommunityPurchased surface water
2HovenPotter346CommunityPurchased surface water
3South Whitlock Resort, LLCPotter50Transient non-communityGroundwater
4TolstoyPotter36CommunityPurchased surface water

Also serving Potter County

These systems serve several counties, including Potter County. EPA lists another county first for them, so they are not included in the counts above.

Multi-county water systems that also serve Potter County, South Dakota
Water systemCountyPopulation servedTypeSource
Web Water Development AssociationWalworth + 9 more20,750CommunitySurface water

Potter County water systems: frequently asked questions

How many public water systems are in Potter County, South Dakota?

EPA's SDWIS records file 4 active public water systems under Potter County, South Dakota: 3 community systems (75%) and 1 transient non-community systems (25%). At least 1 more system is listed under another county but also serve Potter County.

Who supplies drinking water in Potter County, SD?

The largest community water systems filed under Potter County are Gettysburg (1,162 people served), Hoven (346 people served) and Tolstoy (36 people served). Which system serves a particular address depends on its service area, which EPA's SDWIS records do not include; a water bill or the local utility can confirm it.

Does Potter County's drinking water come from groundwater or surface water?

Of the 4 active public water systems in Potter County, 25% draw mainly on groundwater and 75% on surface water, counting purchased supplies. The largest system, Gettysburg, uses purchased surface water.

Where can I find a water quality report for Potter County?

Each community water system must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1, covering the previous calendar year. 3 community systems are filed under Potter County, so the report to look for is the one from the system that supplies your address.

How can I check violations for a water system in Potter County?

Open the system's profile from the list on this page. Each profile shows the most recent Safe Drinking Water Act violations in EPA's records, with plain-English labels and whether each one is resolved. For current compliance status, EPA ECHO is the primary source.

More South Dakota water systems

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, “Public water systems in Potter County, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/potter (data as of October 1, 2026).