We read 16 results from South Saint Paul’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 20,400 people · Water system ID MN1190020 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 6.1 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 5.7 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.4x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 3.6 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 3.4 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal3.4x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range ND to 3.9 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 3.9 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.09 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.23 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Fluoridehighest running annual average · range 0.37 to 0.64 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.54 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range ND to 2.8 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 2.8 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)as reported · range ND to 5.5 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 5.1 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Sulfatehighest measured · range 14.6 to 20.9 · sampled 2024 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 20.9 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| PFBA (a PFAS)as reported · range 1.4 to 160 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 145 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)as reported · range ND to 4.6 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 4.3 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHpA (a PFAS)as reported · range ND to 1.2 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 1.1 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)as reported · range ND to 5.2 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 4.9 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeA (a PFAS)as reported · range ND to 10 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 9.6 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeS (a PFAS)as reported · range ND to 1.3 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 1.2 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 5 to 6.27 · sampled 2024 · Wells / treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 6.27 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 2 numbers we weren’t sure about are held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in South Saint Paul’s water between Jul 2024 and Nov 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA7.6 pptFound in 1 of 10 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS5.6 pptFound in 1 of 10 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS4.7 pptFound in 1 of 10 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Radium and uranium
Found: Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
More districts: Minnesota water quality · All states · Something look wrong? Tell us