About Our Water

Source of South St. Paul Water

The City of South St. Paul provides drinking water from a groundwater source via four municipal wells. These wells range from 339 to 500 feet deep and draw water from the Jordan, Jordan-St. Lawrence, and Prairie Du Chien-Jordan aquifers.

Decisions That Affect Our Water

Water is a vital natural resource and part of an interconnected system. Contaminants released into the ground or air can eventually impact water quality.

Daily choices—like turning off the tap while brushing teeth, using zero-phosphorus fertilizers, or properly disposing of hazardous household waste at the Dakota County Eco-Site—contribute to cleaner, safer drinking water. When individuals, businesses, and communities act together, the positive effects multiply, improving local waterways, protecting watersheds, and reducing pollution.

PFBA Levels

PFBA (perfluorobutanoic acid) has been detected at a very low level in South St. Paul's water supply. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has established a Health Based Value (HBV) for PFBA of 7 parts per billion (ppb). This replaces the previous drinking water guideline of 1 ppb, which was based on limited health data and comparisons to other compounds like PFOA.

Health Based Value (HBV)

A Health Based Value is a calculated concentration of a contaminant in groundwater that poses little or no health risk, even with daily consumption over a lifetime. HBVs are used by state agencies in environmental protection and groundwater policy.

HBV Health Impacts

The updated HBV for PFBA reflects enhanced understanding of its health implications during fetal development and early life stages, as well as its persistence in the human body. The current HBV is designed to safeguard all populations, including fetuses, infants, and children.

In South St. Paul, the detected PFBA level is 0.4 ppb—well below the HBV. MDH continues to review emerging scientific data to ensure health guidelines remain protective and evidence-based.

The Minnesota Department of Health monitors South St. Paul’s drinking water quality regularly. Monitoring results are published annually to inform the public.