Public water system · SD4600335
ActiveTulare
At a glance
Tulare (PWSID SD4600335) is an active community water system in Spink County, South Dakota. It reports serving 211 people through 136 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 March 2021.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
211
Service connections
136
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Tulare compare with other water systems in Spink County?
By EPA's size categories, Tulare is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Spink County has 10 active public water systems, and Tulare is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 39% below the county average of 349 people per system, and accounts for 6.1% of the 3,485 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 Tulare 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 Tulare?
EPA lists Tulare 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. 7 of the 10 active systems in Spink County (70%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Tulare have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in March 2021. The violations listed here began between July 1992 and March 2021. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 2 required treatment not met, 2 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 8 as resolved and 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-03-13 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-12-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-02-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1995-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1995-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 1994-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1992-10-07 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
| 1992-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
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.
Tulare: frequently asked questions
Who runs Tulare?
Tulare (PWSID SD4600335) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Tulare serve?
Tulare reports serving 211 people through 136 service connections in Spink County, South Dakota.
Where does Tulare 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 Tulare 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 March 2021. 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 Tulare'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 March 2021. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Tulare's water quality report?
As a community water system, Tulare 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 Spink County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfield | Spink | 2,214 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Mellette | Spink | 205 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Doland | Spink | 199 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Northville | Spink | 143 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Conde | Spink | 142 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Spink Colony | Spink | 108 | 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, “Tulare, PWSID SD4600335, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/tulare-sd4600335 (data as of October 1, 2026).