Minnesota
Minnesota sits in the Midwest and draws its water primarily from Mississippi headwaters, lakes, and aquifers. With roughly 5.7 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 4% of its treated wastewater.
Minnesotawater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Minnesota
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | 24 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | 19 |
| Arsenic | 17 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | 11 |
| Nitrate | 10 |
| Groundwater Rule | 9 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
The 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' still faces localized aquifer drawdown around the Twin Cities metro.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Minnesota currently tracks around moderate to severe conditions. Minnesota has 995 community water systems serving about 5 million people; EPA records show 111 of them (11.2%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Minnesota in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 119 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 3.2 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 24%
- Irrigation share
- 8.5%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~4%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Mississippi headwaters
- ≈ lakes
- ≈ aquifers
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Minnesota?
Minnesota has 995 community water systems serving about 5 million people. EPA records show 111 of them (11.2%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 10 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Minnesota's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Combined Radium (-226 and -228), Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Arsenic.
How much water does Minnesota use per person?
Public water systems in Minnesota withdraw about 119 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 24% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Minnesota?
As of 2026-06-09, 32.4% of Minnesota is in drought (D1+) and 10% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Minnesota
21 trackedMinneapolis
Minneapolis, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Rochester
Rochester, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Bloomington
Bloomington, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Duluth
Duluth, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Brooklyn Park
Brooklyn Park, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Plymouth
Plymouth, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Maple Grove
Maple Grove, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Woodbury
Woodbury, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Eagan
Eagan, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Saint Cloud
Saint Cloud, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Minnesota
Groundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
Explore