Compliance record
PFAS detected
PFAS are industrial “forever chemicals”. These are the EPA's latest
nationwide test results (2023–2025).
Other contaminants detected
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 95th percentile of this
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation. Where a single sample came in higher than that percentile, it
is noted under the bar. Formal violations are listed separately.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Detection rate | Source | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 91.25 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L
worst single sample: 179 µg/L | 90/90 | SYR4 | 2013–2019 |
| Lead | 6.1 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L
worst single sample: 7.9 µg/L | 68/90 | SYR4 | 2013–2019 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1170 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
worst single sample: 1400 µg/L | 64/84 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Fluoride | 1145 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L
worst single sample: 1200 µg/L | 32/32 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Chloroform | 1.385 µg/L No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 2.4 µg/L | 24/52 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2.38 µg/L No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 3.7 µg/L | 23/52 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Bromoform | 2.29 µg/L No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 2.4 µg/L | 23/52 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.36 µg/L No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 4.5 µg/L | 23/52 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 12.7 pCi/L 85% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L
worst single sample: 14 pCi/L | 14/14 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 14/14 | LCR | 2025 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.62 µg/L No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 2.8 µg/L | 10/29 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.4515 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L
worst single sample: 0.5100 µg/L | 10/23 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 0.3400 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L
worst single sample: 0.3600 µg/L | 9/23 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Chromium | 0.3225 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L
worst single sample: 0.3400 µg/L | 8/10 | SYR4 | 2012–2018 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.155 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L
worst single sample: 1.2 µg/L | 4/22 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
| Arsenic | 4.2215 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L
worst single sample: 4.39 µg/L | 2/2 | SYR4 | 2012–2018 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/29 | SYR4 | 2012–2019 |
83 contaminants tested, none detected
1,1,1-Trichloroethane1,1,2-Trichloroethane1,1-Dichloroethylene1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE1,2-Dichloroethane1,2-Dichloropropane11Cl-PF3OUdS2,4,5-TP2,4-D4:2 Fts6:2 Fts8:2 Fts9Cl-PF3ONSAdonaAntimony, TotalAtrazineBhc-GammaBariumBenzeneBenzo(A)PyreneBeryllium, TotalChlorobenzeneCyanideCadmiumCarbofuranCarbon TetrachlorideChlordaneDichloromethaneDalaponDi(2-ethylhexyl) AdipateDichloroacetic AcidDinosebEthylene DibromideEndrinEthylbenzeneGlyphosateHexachlorobenzeneHfpo-DaHeptachlorHeptachlor EpoxideHexachlorocyclopentadieneLassoMercuryMethoxychlorMonobromoacetic AcidMonochloroacetic AcidNetfosaaNfdhaNmefosaaNitriteOxamylPFBSPfdaPfdoaPfeesaPfhpaPfhpsPfhxaPFHXSPfmbaPfmpaPFNAPFOAPFOSPfpesPftaPftrdaPfunaPentachlorophenolPicloramSeleniumSimazineStyreneTetrachloroethyleneThallium, TotalTolueneToxapheneVinyl ChlorideLithiumO-DichlorobenzeneP-Dichlorobenzenetrans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
Utility contact
Frequently asked questions about Cottage Grove
Is Cottage Grove tap water safe to drink?
EPA monitoring detected 19 contaminants in Cottage Grove's water. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most levels are within federal limits. See each level and source above, and the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for its official compliance status.
What contaminants were detected in Cottage Grove's water?
EPA monitoring detected Copper, Lead, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Chloroform, and others. The full list with the level and data source for each is above.
How many people does Cottage Grove serve?
Cottage Grove reports serving 42,760 people in Minnesota, per its EPA record.
Has Cottage Grove had any water quality violations?
The EPA has no formal drinking-water violations on file for Cottage Grove.
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.