Public water system · SD4600407
ActiveSpencer
At a glance
Spencer (PWSID SD4600407) is an active community water system in McCook County, South Dakota. It reports serving 170 people through 68 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, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2016.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
170
Service connections
68
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Spencer compare with other water systems in McCook County?
By EPA's size categories, Spencer is a very small system (500 people or fewer). McCook County has 6 active public water systems, and Spencer is the 6th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is well below the county average of 1,228 people per system, and accounts for 2.3% of the 7,366 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 Spencer 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 Spencer?
EPA lists Spencer 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. 6 of the 6 active systems in McCook County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Spencer have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 2016. The violations listed here began between January 1994 and August 2016. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 2 required treatment not met, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 2 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 of them). EPA lists 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-08-16 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2013-02-05 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherSanitary Survey (TCR) · code 28 | Not reported | No | Resolved |
| 2011-05-06 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1995-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) · code 25 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1994-03-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1994-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chlorobenzenecode 2989 | No | Resolved |
| 1994-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Vinyl chloridecode 2976 | No | Resolved |
| 1994-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Carbon tetrachloridecode 2982 | 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.
Spencer: frequently asked questions
Who runs Spencer?
Spencer (PWSID SD4600407) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Spencer serve?
Spencer reports serving 170 people through 68 service connections in McCook County, South Dakota.
Where does Spencer 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 Spencer have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 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 Spencer'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, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in August 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 Spencer's water quality report?
As a community water system, Spencer 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 McCook County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tm Rural Water District | McCook + 1 more | 4,250 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Salem | McCook | 1,325 | Community | Groundwater |
| Canistota | McCook | 642 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Bridgewater | McCook | 511 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Montrose | McCook | 468 | 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, “Spencer, PWSID SD4600407, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/spencer-sd4600407 (data as of October 1, 2026).