Community Water System · PWS MN1620024
White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake, Minnesota 55110-3277 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 25,634 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 25,634
- People served
- 22
- EPA violations
- 0
- Health-based
- 1 PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 22 drinking-water violations at White Bear Lake - above the Minnesota per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.
- 22
- Total EPA violations on record
- 0%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 25,634
- People served by this system
- 1
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 25,634 residents in White Bear Lake, Minnesota (Ramsey County) through 7,992 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 22 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 21 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2013.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 18 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 68.5 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.
Across Minnesota, EPA tracks 6,557 public water systems serving 5,239,398 people, with 59,895 cumulative violations and 36,496 health-based violations on record. About 52% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 9.1 violations. Statewide, 149 of 196 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (76%).
White Bear Lake's 22 violations sit above the Minnesota average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 7,992
- County
- Ramsey
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 21
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 18 | 2013 |
| Chlorine | MR | 3 | 2013 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 58 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFTrDA | 7/15/2025 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 7/15/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 7/15/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 7/15/2025 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 7/15/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 7/15/2025 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 7/15/2025 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 7/15/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 7/15/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 7/15/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 7/15/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 7/15/2025 | 62.30 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFDoA | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 7/15/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 7/15/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 7/15/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 7/15/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 7/15/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 7/15/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 1/23/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 1/23/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 1/23/2025 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 1/23/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 1/23/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 1/23/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 1/23/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 1/23/2025 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 1/23/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 1/23/2025 | 68.50 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 1/23/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 1/23/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 1/23/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 1/23/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 1/23/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 1/23/2025 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 1/23/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 1/23/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 1/23/2025 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 1/23/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 1/23/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for White Bear Lake.
EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID MN1620024 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Minnesota Drinking Water Authority
Minnesota's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.
Find MN regulator via EPA SDWISViolation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 18 | SDWIS / MN1620024 / 3100 |
| 2013 | Chlorine | MR | 3 | SDWIS / MN1620024 / 0999 |
How White Bear Lake Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | White Bear Lake | Minnesota avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 22 | 9.1 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 0 | 5.6 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | 1 compound | 76% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 25,634 | 799 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 6,557 regulated public water systems in Minnesota.
Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is White Bear Lake water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does White Bear Lake serve? ▼
What type of violations does White Bear Lake have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in White Bear Lake water? ▼
What water source does White Bear Lake use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.