Cottage Grove, MN Water Quality Report

Is Cottage Grove tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Cottage Grove tap water safe to drink? Cottage Grove tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 6.08 ppt across 4 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Cottage Grove water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Cottage Grove water: PFHxS (38.1 ppt), PFOA (27.8 ppt), PFBA (0.22 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Cottage Grove? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Cottage Grove Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Cottage Grove drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 38.1 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 6.08 ppt across 4 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFHxS: 38.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOA: 27.8 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBA: 0.22 ppt
  • PFPeA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Cottage Grove Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 5 lead samples for Cottage Grove water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.006 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Cottage Grove: approximately 37,500.

ZIP Codes Served

55016

What Cottage Grove Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually