How Healthy is Sioux Falls Drinking Water?

You could argue that it's one of the most important aspects of a thriving city. And when it comes to Sioux Falls, its drinking water, it's a mixed bag.

First things first: The city of Sioux Falls meets or exceeds all Federal and State EPA standards, and has, in the recent past, won awards for the high quality of its drinking water. And while the quality of the water is generally high, it's still hard water, and some difficult challenges come with that.

The website, EWG.ORG has a database built up of thousands of communities throughout the U.S. If you simply type in the zip code of your town, you'll likely find all kinds of info on the drinking water in your area. For Sioux Falls, there are some encouraging signs, but also a few things to be aware of.

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Where Does Sioux Falls Get Its Drinking Water?

The City of Sioux Falls receives its drinking water from the Big Sioux River (surface water), the Big Sioux Aquifer, the Middle Skunk Creek Aquifer (ground water), and treated water from the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. All drinking water sources (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. All of these sources contain some naturally occurring substances.

-City of Sioux Falls Website

What's In Sioux Falls Drinking Water?

According to EWG, here's what's in Sioux Falls tap water:

Arsenic: 2.5 ppb (parts per billion). This is below the legal limit of 10 ppb, however it's far above the National Average of .624 ppb, and also above the State Average of 1.43 ppb.

Potential Health Effect: Cancer

Potential Sources For High Arsenic, According to EWG: Agriculture, Industry, Naturally Occurring

Nitrates: 0.48 ppm (parts per million). This is well below the National Average of 0.824 and also below the State Average of 0.506.

Total Trihalomethanes: 31.8 ppb. This is slightly above the National Average of 29.1 ppb, and also slightly above the State Average of 26.8 ppb.

Potential Sources For High Trihalomethanes: Treatment Byproducts

There are several other contaminants listed that you can check out at the EWG Website, including Chromium and Haloacetic Acids here.

It's also important to keep in mind that Sioux Falls' drinking water is generally considered to have above-average drinking water. As previously mentioned, it was just a few years ago that the city received an award from the American Water Works Association. Sioux Falls placed third in a national competition, just behind Kansas City, Missouri, and Sitka, Alaska, for the best-tasting water in the United States.

As with everything, there's a lot of nuance, and it's important for each person to know all the details about the water quality of the community in which they live, and the EWG Website is a great starting point. There, you can find information on the drinking water for hundreds of cities and towns throughout the entire United States.

Story Sources: City of Sioux Falls Website, EWG Website