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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for BOX ELDER • Updated October 2026
Grade D — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
BOX ELDER has notable problems in EPA's records — health-based violations, elevated lead or PFAS above the federal limit. A certified filter is a reasonable precaution.
Box Elder, SD tap water is legal to drink but grades D on EPA's records, mainly because of 7 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
Box Elder, SD tap water is legal to drink but grades D on EPA's records, mainly because of 7 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
BOX ELDER's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for BOX ELDER (2023-03-13 to 2023-10-02) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
BOX ELDER has 9 violations on file since 2016: 7 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
BOX ELDER reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 14,000 people (EPA PWSID SD4600046).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
Compare filter options for your Box Elder tap water
BOX ELDER has 7 health-based EPA violations in the last five years.
See the filters matched to Box Elder's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
Unsure which contaminants to treat? Compare home kits and certified lab testing before buying.
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BOX ELDER · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-10-16
EPA records 7 health-based violations for this system in the last five years, all of which are marked resolved or archived. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or a required treatment step was not met.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageGross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MCL exceeded | 2025-07-01 → 2025-09-30 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageGross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MCL exceeded | 2025-04-01 → 2025-06-30 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageCombined Radium (-226 and -228) | MCL exceeded | 2024-07-01 → 2024-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2024-09-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageGross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MCL exceeded | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageCombined Radium (-226 and -228) | MCL exceeded | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageGross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MCL exceeded | 2022-01-01 → 2022-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2022-03-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageCombined Radium (-226 and -228) | MCL exceeded | 2022-01-01 → 2022-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2022-03-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageGross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MCL exceeded | 2021-10-01 → 2021-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-12-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageCombined Radium (-226 and -228) | MCL exceeded | 2021-10-01 → 2021-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-12-31 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by BOX ELDER
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31), 90% of the homes BOX ELDER sampled had lead at or below 2 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2020-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2017-01-01 → 2017-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2014-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2011-01-01 → 2011-12-31 | 7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2008-01-01 → 2008-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2005-01-01 → 2005-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2002-01-01 → 2002-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1999-01-01 → 1999-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1998-01-01 → 1998-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1997-01-01 → 1997-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1995-01-01 → 1995-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-03-13 to 2023-10-02 · 174 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for BOX ELDER were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 6 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 6 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 6 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
Lithium (also monitored under UCMR5, not a PFAS): detected in 4 of 6 samples, max 14 µg/L. There is no federal limit for lithium.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Box Elder will follow up - no obligation.
Groundwater systems draw from wells; naturally occurring arsenic, nitrate, radium and uranium are the readings to watch, along with PFAS near industrial or military sites.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Box Elder homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Box Elder faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Box Elder households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Box Elder residents measured at their own tap. All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Box Elder yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Box Elder ranks #16 of 17 graded South Dakota cities.
Box Elder, SD tap water is legal to drink but grades D on EPA's records, mainly because of 7 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
BOX ELDER's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for BOX ELDER (2023-03-13 to 2023-10-02) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
BOX ELDER has 9 violations on file since 2016: 7 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
BOX ELDER reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 14,000 people (EPA PWSID SD4600046).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
BOX ELDER has 7 health-based EPA violations in the last five years.
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