Is Elk River, MN tap water safe?
The short answer
None of the 4 utilities serving Elk River has a result above a legal limit or action level, or a health-based violation since 2016, in EPA’s and Minnesota’s records.
Elk River, which serves the most people here, has 1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 2.0 ppb, above the health goal. Health goals are stricter than legal limits and are not enforced.
A town can be served by more than one utility, and some homes are on private wells. The name on your water bill tells you which is yours, and your ZIP code narrows it down. They are listed by how many people each serves in Elk River’s ZIP codes, from EPA’s estimates.
- Open report
Elk River
Minnesota · serves 19,532 people · about 8,000 in Elk River
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 2.0 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Otsego
Minnesota · serves 19,000 people · about 3,100 in Elk River
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Uranium at 3.3 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Windsor Oaks Development
Minnesota · serves 80 people · nearly all in Elk River
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic at 2.7 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Ridges of Rice Lake Housing Development
Minnesota · serves 180 people · about 100 in Elk River
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic at 2.9 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
What handles it
Each of these is certified, on a certifier’s listing, for a result above a line in Elk River’s water, which serves the most people here. Another utility’s report names what handles its own results.
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Brita Tahoe Pitcher with Elite Filter (OB60, OB06)
Pitcher
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 13, 2026
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 53checked Oct. 13, 2026
Certified for: Lead
Brita Everyday Pitcher with Elite Filter (OB46, OB06)
Pitcher
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 13, 2026
Certified for: Lead
PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher (PPT111W)
Pitcher
- NSF listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: Lead
Water testing near Elk River
The 3 labs Minnesota certifies closest to Elk River, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.
Water Laboratories, Inc.
Elk River, MN · under a mile
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals
Instrumental Research, Inc.
Fridley, MN · about 22 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate
Engel Water Testing, Inc.
Minnetrista, MN · about 23 miles
Certified for bacteria
ZIP codes in Elk River
Which ZIP codes are in Elk River: Census 2020 relationship files. Which utilities serve them, and how many people: EPA SDWIS and EPA’s service area map. Each utility’s results: EPA UCMR 5, EPA SDWIS, and EPA’s and the state’s compliance monitoring, as its report lists them. How they are measured: methodology. Certified labs: Minnesota Department of Health, accredited labs in Minnesota accepting drinking water samples from private well users; distances from the Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation area gazetteer.
Near Elk River
Towns nearby with a page of their own.
What to do next
- Read Elk River’s full reportEvery result with its dates, the violations, and the certification claim that handles each finding.Open the report
- Filters for LeadRanked by certification and what they cost over five years.The best water filters for lead, ranked
- On a private well?No utility tests a well. A certified lab test is the first step.How to test well water