Sioux Falls, SD Water Quality Report
Is Sioux Falls tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Sioux Falls tap water safe to drink? Sioux Falls water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 105 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.
What contaminants are in Sioux Falls water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Sioux Falls water: lithium (105 ppt), PFBA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Sioux Falls? 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.
Sioux Falls Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Sioux Falls drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 105 ppt across 4 water systems, representing an average of 55.83 ppt across 2 detected compounds.
Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 105 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFBA: 0.01 ppt
Lead in Sioux Falls Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 13 lead samples for Sioux Falls 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.
EPA Violations in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls public water systems have 1 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violation on record, including Combined Radium (226+228). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
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 Sioux Falls: approximately 192,517.
ZIP Codes Served
What Sioux Falls Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually