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Dalton

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
209 people
Connections
134
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Dalton, MN
County
Otter Tail
Owner
Local government
The ZIP code it serves

56324

The short answer

1 result is above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic, above the health goal. 1 health-based violation since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Copper: EPA’s file records a utility’s copper only when it exceeds the action level. The last here was 1.4 ppm, for the period ending June 30, 2012. None since is on file, so it is not counted as a current finding.

Arsenic, haloacetic acids (HAA5), nitrate and total trihalomethanes (TTHM): 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 Jan. 10, 2012 to Nov. 12, 2019. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.

Above the health goal1

Arsenic

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

8.0ppb

Highest yearly average, 2023 to 2025

2025 average: 7.8 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 8.0 ppb, in 2023: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. In 2025, the latest year on file, it averaged 7.8 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 11.7 ppb, in 2018, and EPA recorded a violation in 2019.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”

Below EPA’s limits1

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

1.2ppm

Highest yearly average, 2012 to 2019

2019 average: 0.56 ppm

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.2 ppm, in 2012, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. Its highest single sample was 1.3 ppm. In 2019, the latest year on file, its four samples averaged 0.56 ppm.

What handles it

5 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Chromium (total)
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Lead
  • Nitrate
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

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: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claim: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)

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

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The best reverse osmosis systems, ranked

Violations since 2016

Contaminant or ruleTypePeriodMeasuredStatus
ArsenicThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJan. 1, 2019 to March 31, 20190.012 MG/LResolved
Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 1 monitoring or reporting violation not shown.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Arsenic, haloacetic acids (HAA5), nitrate and total trihalomethanes (TTHM) 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. Dalton’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 Jan. 10, 2012 to Nov. 12, 2019.

Testing your own tap

Dalton’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 2 labs Minnesota certifies closest to the area Dalton serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Steven M. Traut Wells, Inc.

    Alexandria, MN · about 32 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate

    (320) 762-1528

  • RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc. – Detroit Lakes

    Detroit Lakes, MN · about 46 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals

    (218) 846-1465

All 24 certified labs for Minnesota

Sources

PWSID MN1560008. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Also in Otter Tail County

All Minnesota utilities

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