Sanborn County, South Dakota — public water systems
At a glance
5 active public water systems are filed under Sanborn County, South Dakota in EPA's SDWIS records, together reporting 1,137 people served. The largest is Woonsocket, which reports serving 618 people. 3 are community water systems serving people where they live; the other 2 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
5
Population served
1.1K
Community systems
3
Groundwater share
80%
How does Sanborn County compare with other South Dakota counties?
Sanborn County has the 34th-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 1,137 people served in total, the 51st-largest county figure in the state and 0.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 227 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 Sanborn County's drinking water come from?
By primary water source, Sanborn County's active systems draw on groundwater (4, 80%) and purchased surface water (1, 20%). Overall, 80% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 20% 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, Woonsocket, draws primarily on groundwater.
What kinds of water systems operate in Sanborn County?
Sanborn County's active systems break down as 3 community systems (60%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (20%) and 1 transient non-community systems (20%). 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 local government (40%), private (40%) and state government (20%).
Water systems in Sanborn County
🔒 Create a free account to export CSV| # | Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woonsocket | Sanborn | 618 | Community | Groundwater |
| 2 | Upland Colony | Sanborn | 198 | Community | Groundwater |
| 3 | Letcher | Sanborn | 159 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| 4 | Sanborn Central School District | Sanborn | 125 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| 5 | Old Whites Drive in | Sanborn | 37 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
Also serving Sanborn County
These systems serve several counties, including Sanborn County. EPA lists another county first for them, so they are not included in the counts above.
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davison Rural Water System Inc. | Davison + 4 more | 3,485 | Community | Purchased surface water |
Sanborn County water systems: frequently asked questions
How many public water systems are in Sanborn County, South Dakota?
EPA's SDWIS records file 5 active public water systems under Sanborn County, South Dakota: 3 community systems (60%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (20%) and 1 transient non-community systems (20%). At least 1 more system is listed under another county but also serve Sanborn County.
Who supplies drinking water in Sanborn County, SD?
The largest community water systems filed under Sanborn County are Woonsocket (618 people served), Upland Colony (198 people served) and Letcher (159 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 Sanborn County's drinking water come from groundwater or surface water?
Of the 5 active public water systems in Sanborn County, 80% draw mainly on groundwater and 20% on surface water, counting purchased supplies. The largest system, Woonsocket, uses groundwater.
Where can I find a water quality report for Sanborn 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 Sanborn 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 Sanborn 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 Sanborn County, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/sanborn (data as of October 1, 2026).