Is Orono, MN tap water safe?
The short answer
2 of the 9 utilities serving Orono have a result above a legal limit or action level, or a health-based violation since 2016, in EPA’s and Minnesota’s records: Orono and Minnetrista.
Minnetonka, which serves the most people here, has nothing above a health goal in EPA’s and Minnesota’s records. That data covers what its report lists, not everything.
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 Orono’s ZIP codes, from EPA’s estimates.
- Open report
Minnetonka
Minnesota · serves 54,474 people · about 1,800 in Orono
Nothing in its records is above a health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Wayzata
Minnesota · serves 4,592 people · about 1,600 in Orono
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic at 3.8 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Orono
Minnesota · serves 2,505 people · about 1,100 in Orono
1 result above the action level and 1 result above the health goal. The worst: Copper at 1.4 ppm, above the action level.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Long Lake
Minnesota · serves 1,729 people · about 920 in Orono
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic at 1.1 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Mound
Minnesota · serves 9,447 people · about 800 in Orono
1 result above the health goal and 1 result above EPA’s health benchmark. The worst: Lithium at 16 ppb, above EPA’s health benchmark.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Minnetrista
Minnesota · serves 5,888 people · about 250 in Orono
1 result above the action level. The worst: Copper at 1.7 ppm, above the action level.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Minnetonka Beach
Minnesota · serves 547 people · about 190 in Orono
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
Medina
Minnesota · serves 4,205 people · about 170 in Orono
2 results above the health goal and 1 result above EPA’s health benchmark. The worst: Lithium at 20 ppb, above EPA’s health benchmark.
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Maple Plain
Minnesota · serves 2,174 people · under 100 in Orono
1 result above the health goal. The worst: Lead at 1.0 ppb, above the health goal.
No health-based violations since 2016
Water testing near Orono
The 3 labs Minnesota certifies closest to Orono, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.
Engel Water Testing, Inc.
Minnetrista, MN · about 4 miles
Certified for bacteria
Twin City Water Clinic, Inc.
Hopkins, MN · about 11 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals
EMSL Analytical, Inc.
New Hope, MN · about 12 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals
Which ZIP codes are in Orono: 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 Orono
Other towns in Hennepin County with a page of their own.
What to do next
- Read Minnetonka’s full reportEvery result with its dates, the violations, and the certification claim that handles each finding.Open the report
- Decide if you want a filter at allA filter for taste or chlorine is a preference, not a need. The standards say what each kind can do.NSF/ANSI standards, decoded
- On a private well?No utility tests a well. A certified lab test is the first step.How to test well water