Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Bloomington?
Yes, Bloomington's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Bloomington has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Bloomington's water utility, Bloomington, had 2 non-health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Bloomington was resolved on Dec. 31, 2020. This assessment is based on the Bloomington water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Bloomington Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Bloomington tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Bloomington's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Bloomington Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Bloomington for Bloomington in Minnesota. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Oct. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020, Bloomington had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
Is there Lead in Bloomington Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Bloomington water system, Bloomington, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.002 mg/L of lead in Bloomington water. This is 13.3% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Bloomington contained more lead.
While Bloomington water testing may have found 0.002 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Bloomington Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Minneapolis-St Paul IAP - near Bloomington with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Bloomington has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Bloomington SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 10/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Bloomington Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | Bloomington City Hall 1800 West Old Shakopee Road Bloomington, MN, 55431-3027 |
Existing customers can login to their Bloomington account to pay their Bloomington water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Bloomington bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Bloomington water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Bloomington water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Bloomington means you will often need to put the water in your name with Bloomington. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Bloomington means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Bloomington. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Bloomington, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Bloomington Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Bloomington's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
2021
ANNUAL DRINKING
WATER QUALITY
REPORT
City of Bloomington
Utilities
Office of
Water Quality
Mayor John Hamilton
Public Water System ID#
IN 5253002
www.bloomington.in.gov/utilities
To ensure tap water is safe to drink, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) prescribe regulations to limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. This publication describes those guidelines for the City of Bloomington’s drinking water. United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and their potential health effects can be obtained by calling EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly people, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
이 서류는 식수에 관한 중요한 정보를 담고 있으니, 필요하면 다른이에게 번역이
나 낭독을 하게하여 내용을 숙지하시기 바랍니다.
Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre el agua
potable. Tradúzcalo o pídale a alguien que se lo explique.
Important Information about Lead in Water:
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with lead service lines and home plumbing. CBU does not use lead materials but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components of private construction.
When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using the water for drinking and cooking.
If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, test methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Your Drinking Water Source:
The source of the City of Bloomington’s drinking water is surface water from Monroe Reservoir, located nine miles southeast of Bloomington. The City of Bloomington has received a copy of the
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
- Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
- Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
- Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
- Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
2020 Table of Detected Contaminants
Substance |
Highest Level |
Highest Level |
Violation |
Ideal Goals |
Sources of Contamination |
|
|
Allowed |
|
Detected |
|
(EPA's MCLG) |
|
|
(EPA's MCL) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Microbiological Contaminants |
|
|||
Total Coliform Bacteria |
5 percent |
|
1.1 percent |
No |
0 |
Naturally present in the environment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) |
minimum 35% |
|
41.0% removal |
No |
None |
Naturally present in the environment |
|
removal |
|
average 1 |
|
|
|
Turbidity |
Treatment |
|
0.15 turbidity units 2 |
No |
None |
Soil runoff |
|
Technique (TT) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radioactive Contaminants |
|
||
Gross alpha excluding radon and uranium 3 |
15 pCi/L |
|
1.16 pCi/L |
No |
0 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
5 pCi/L |
|
0.162 pCi/L |
No |
0 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inorganic |
Contaminants |
|
|
Barium |
2 ppm |
|
0.014 ppm |
No |
2 ppm |
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copper |
TT; Action Level = |
|
0.024 ppm |
No |
1.3 ppm |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion |
|
1.3 ppm |
|
(90th Percentile) 4 |
|
|
of natural deposits |
Chloramines (as Chlorine) |
4.0 ppm (MRDL) |
|
3.1 ppm 5 |
No |
4 ppm (MRDLG) |
Water additive to control microbes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fluoride |
4 ppm |
|
0.5 ppm |
No |
4 ppm |
Water additive which promotes strong teeth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead |
TT; Action Level = |
|
4.9 ppb |
No |
0 |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion |
|
15 ppb |
|
(90th Percentile) 4 |
|
|
of natural deposits |
|
|
|
Organic Contaminants |
|
|
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) |
80 ppb |
|
46.9 ppb average 6 |
No |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
60 ppb |
|
36.5 ppb average 7 |
No |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed above are the 12 contaminants detected in Bloomington's drinking water during 2020. All are within allowable levels.
Not listed are the more than 65 primary contaminants that were tested for and not detected.
DEFINITIONS:
90th Percentile - Ninety percent of samples had lower values than the value indicated.
Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Average - Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly samples.
Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA) - Average of the four most recent quarterly samples, for each sample site, collected for reporting purposes. Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the
MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) - The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) - The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
pCi/L - Picocuries per liter is a measure of radioactivity in water. A picocurie is
ppm - parts per million. Equivalent to milligrams per liter (mg/l) or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water. ppb - parts per billion. Equivalent to micrograms per liter (ug/l) or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water.
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) - a measurement of natural and
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
1 Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal percentages ranged from 24.3% to 55.3%.
2 Turbidity levels ranged from 0.02 to 0.15 with an average of 0.03 turbidity units. The lowest level of compliance on a monthly basis was 100%.
3 Data listed are from 2015 and are the most recent testing done in accordance with regulations.
4 No sites exceeded the Action Level for either Lead or Copper.
5 Chloramine levels ranged from 0.87 to 3.1 ppm, with an average of 2.35 ppm.
6 Average listed is the greatest LRAA for any sample site during 2020. TTHM levels ranged from 28.9 to 74.0 ppb. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer.
7 Average listed is the greatest LRAA for any sample site during 2020. HAA5 levels ranged from 20.1 to 57.6 ppb. Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
The City of Bloomington’s Utilities
Service Board (USB) meets every other Monday at 5:00 pm. USB meetings are open to the public and citizens are welcome to attend, observe, and record. For more information contact the Director’s Office: (812)
Tyler Steury
Water Quality Coordinator
(812)
wq@bloomington.in.gov
Contaminants
Bloomington
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Minnesota Department of Health - Environmental Health Division, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 85400
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Purchased surface water
- Total: 13
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
Other Detected Contaminants
- Chromium (total)
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Molybdenum
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.