Saint Cloud
Saint Cloud, MN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Saint Cloud, MN is a small but growing city, with a population near 65,842 and the 11th-largest community in Minnesota. Like much of Minnesota, Saint Cloud draws its water primarily from Mississippi headwaters, lakes, and aquifers.
Saint Cloud's water outlook is shaped most by groundwater depletion — the issue that dominates planning across Minnesota. The 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' still faces localized aquifer drawdown around the Twin Cities metro.
Saint Cloud sits in a state that reuses roughly 4% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences moderate to severe drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Minnesota state water profile and the related issues below.
At a glance
- Population ~65,842 (11th-largest in Minnesota)
- Primary sources: Mississippi headwaters, lakes, and aquifers
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~4% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Minnesota in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Saint Cloud?
Saint Cloud is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 11.2% of Minnesota's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does Saint Cloud get its water?
Saint Cloud draws from the same regional sources that serve Minnesota: Mississippi headwaters, lakes, aquifers.
Related water issues
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.
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