Public water system · SD4600367
ActiveWhite River
At a glance
White River (PWSID SD4600367) is an active community water system in Mellette County, South Dakota. It reports serving 533 people through 264 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 April 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
533
Service connections
264
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does White River compare with other water systems in Mellette County?
By EPA's size categories, White River is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Mellette County has 1 active public water system, and White River is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is roughly in line with the county average of 533 people per system, and accounts for 100% of the 533 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 White River 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 White River?
EPA lists White River 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. 1 of the 1 active systems in Mellette County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does White River have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2024. The violations listed here began between January 1995 and April 2024. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 2 required treatment not met, 2 contaminant level above the legal limit and 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-01-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2003-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 1997-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-10-14 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1995-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1995-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | 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.
White River: frequently asked questions
Who runs White River?
White River (PWSID SD4600367) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does White River serve?
White River reports serving 533 people through 264 service connections in Mellette County, South Dakota.
Where does White River 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 White River 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 April 2024. 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 White River'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 April 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SD state drinking water program.
Where can I find White River's water quality report?
As a community water system, White River 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.
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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, “White River, PWSID SD4600367, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/white-river-sd4600367 (data as of October 1, 2026).