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Tap water quality report

Rochester, MN

EPA monitoring detected 20 contaminants across the 9 water suppliers serving Rochester. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — see the highest level found for each below, with its EPA source and period.

9
water suppliers
124,843
people served
20
contaminants found
Minnesota rankings Lead in Minnesota PFAS in Minnesota

What was found in Rochester's water

The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.

ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitSuppliersSource
Copper
1710 µg/L 132%
of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L
 7/9 SYR4
Fluoride
1300 µg/L 33%
of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L
 1/9 SYR4
Nitrate-Nitrite
770 µg/L 7.7%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
 1/9 SYR4
Cyanide
120 µg/L 60%
of the EPA limit 200 µg/L
 2/9 SYR4
Lead
111 µg/L 740%
of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L
 6/9 SYR4
Barium
105 µg/L 5.3%
of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L
 7/9 SYR4
Chloroform
43 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 6/9 SYR4
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U
13 pCi/L 87%
of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L
 5/9 SYR4
Lithium
10.8 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/9 UCMR-5
Dichloroacetic Acid
6.4 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 3/9 SYR4
Bromodichloromethane
4.3 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 5/9 SYR4
Dibromochloromethane
2.4 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 5/9 SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid
2 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 3/9 SYR4
Tetrachloroethylene
1.5 µg/L 30%
of the EPA limit 5 µg/L
 1/9 SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid
1 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/9 SYR4
Trichloroethylene
0.5700 µg/L 11%
of the EPA limit 5 µg/L
 1/9 SYR4
Chromium
0.3300 µg/L 0.3%
of the EPA limit 100 µg/L
 1/9 SYR4
Toluene
0.2400 µg/L 0%
of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L
 1/9 SYR4
Lead
0.0070 mg/L 47%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
 9/9 LCR
PFHXS
0.0039 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/9 UCMR-5
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Rochester

SupplierPopulation served
Rochester 123,624
Chester Heights 300
Zumbro Ridge Estates 270
Hallmark Terrace Mobile Home Park 170
Sandy Slopes Community 158
Meadowbrook Addition 125
Briarwood Subdivision 90
Country Home Trailer Park 56
Sunrise Mobile Home Park 50

Frequently asked questions about Rochester tap water

Is Rochester tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Rochester. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.

How many water suppliers serve Rochester?

9 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Rochester, Minnesota to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Rochester's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Rochester include Copper, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Cyanide, Lead. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.