South Dakota
South Dakota sits in the Midwest and draws its water primarily from Missouri River and aquifers. With roughly 0.91 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater.
South Dakotawater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in South Dakota
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | 114 |
| Groundwater Rule | 36 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 15 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 11 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 10 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | 10 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Irrigation-driven demand with the Missouri River reservoirs as the backbone.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, South Dakota currently tracks around severe to extreme conditions. South Dakota has 513 community water systems serving about 1 million people; EPA records show 175 of them (34.1%) 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 South Dakota 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)
- 96 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 0.4 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 59.5%
- Irrigation share
- 52.7%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~3%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Missouri River
- ≈ aquifers
Common questions
Is tap water safe in South Dakota?
South Dakota has 513 community water systems serving about 1 million people. EPA records show 175 of them (34.1%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 0 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 South Dakota's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule, Groundwater Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule.
How much water does South Dakota use per person?
Public water systems in South Dakota withdraw about 96 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 59.5% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in South Dakota?
As of 2026-06-09, 52.7% of South Dakota is in drought (D1+) and 34.4% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in South Dakota
6 trackedSioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Rapid City
Rapid City, SD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen, SD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Brookings
Brookings, SD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Watertown
Watertown, SD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Mitchell
Mitchell, SD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in South Dakota
Agricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
Explore