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Askov

What EPA’s and Minnesota’s records show in this utility’s water: nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals; lead and copper; and violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.

Serves
364 people
Connections
179
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Askov, MN
County
Pine
Owner
Local government
The ZIP code it serves

55704

The short answer

1 result is above EPA’s legal limit. The worst: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), above the legal limit. 2 health-based violations since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), nitrate, arsenic and haloacetic acids (HAA5): Minnesota’s yearly summaries per water system, 2023 to 2025, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Fluoride and chromium (total): EPA’s compliance monitoring file, samples taken from Feb. 13, 2012 to Oct. 8, 2019. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.

Above the legal limit1

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Forms or is added in treatment

Above the legal limit

6.1ppb

Highest yearly average, 2023 to 2025

2025 average: 1.8 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 6.1 ppb, in 2024, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, it averaged 1.8 ppb. EPA judges this limit at each sampling point, and recorded a violation for total trihalomethanes (TTHM) at this utility in 2020.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”

Below EPA’s limits2

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

1.1ppm

Highest yearly average, 2012 to 2019

2019 average: 0.51 ppm

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.1 ppm, in 2014, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. Its highest single sample was 1.5 ppm. In 2019, the latest year on file, its four samples averaged 0.51 ppm.

What handles it

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

0.2ppm

Highest yearly average, 2023 to 2025

2025 average: 0.2 ppm

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.2 ppm, in 2023, below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. In 2025, the latest year on file, it averaged 0.2 ppm. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 0.06 ppm, in 2017.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”
4 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Arsenic
  • Chromium (total)
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Lead

What handles it

A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”

  • NSF/ANSI 53

    Claim: Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction

    For: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

    Other certifiers’ wording: VOC Reduction

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claim: Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction

    For: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

At the tap, or for the whole house?

These come with the water itself, so a whole-house system certified for the same claims treats every tap and shower. A filter at the tap treats drinking water for much less. How whole-house systems compare.

Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing

Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money

Compare five-year costs

Violations since 2016

Contaminant or ruleTypePeriodMeasuredStatus
TTHMThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageApril 1, 2020 to June 30, 20200.089 MG/LResolved
TTHMThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageApril 1, 2019 to June 30, 20190.091 MG/LResolved
Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 5 monitoring or reporting violations not shown.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), nitrate, arsenic and haloacetic acids (HAA5) results here are Minnesota’s own yearly summaries from 2023 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Fluoride and chromium (total) come from EPA’s file alone, which ends in 2019. Askov’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has newer results for those and the contaminants this page does not show.

  • Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.

  • What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.

  • Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; Minnesota’s yearly summaries cover 2023 to 2025; EPA’s compliance samples are from Feb. 13, 2012 to Oct. 8, 2019.

Testing your own tap

Askov’s results are for the water it sends out. What your own service line, solder and fixtures add shows up only in a test of your tap, by a lab Minnesota certifies.

The 3 labs Minnesota certifies closest to the area Askov serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Pace Analytical Services, LLC - Duluth

    Duluth, MN · about 45 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate

    (218) 727-6380

  • A.W. Research Laboratories, Inc.

    Brainerd, MN · about 66 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals

    (218) 829-7974

  • Water Laboratories, Inc.

    Elk River, MN · about 73 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals

    (763) 441-7509

All 24 certified labs for Minnesota

Sources

PWSID MN1580001. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Also in Pine County

All Minnesota utilities

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