Cottage Grove, MN Water Quality Report

Is Cottage Grove tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Cottage Grove, MN tap water safe to drink? Cottage Grove, MN water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 220 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Cottage Grove, MN water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Cottage Grove water: PFBA (220 ppt), PFHxS (38.1 ppt), PFOA (27.8 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Cottage Grove, MN? For Cottage Grove, MN households, reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. Pitcher and faucet filters certified to NSF-53 for PFAS (ZeroWater, PUR PLUS) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Cottage Grove, MN Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Cottage Grove, MN drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 220 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 93.64 ppt across 4 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFBA: 220 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxS: 38.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOA: 27.8 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFPeA: 6.4 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)

Lead in Cottage Grove, MN Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 5 lead samples for Cottage Grove water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.006 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

About the Data

Source: EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5), the 2023-2025 national testing program spanning about 10,000 public water systems – the broadest PFAS survey ever run in the US. Cottage Grove, MN serves a population of roughly 37,500.

ZIP Codes Served

55016

What Cottage Grove, Minnesota Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your Minnesota utility – it is free and updated annually
  3. Choose a filter certified for PFAS: NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis (94-99% removal) or an NSF-53 pitcher
  4. High-exposure households (pregnancy, infants, immunocompromised) should also consider a PFAS home test kit