Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Rochester, Minnesota
Tap water in Rochester, Minnesota receives a grade of C (76/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by Rochester. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Rochester's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Rochester.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.129 ppt, 129x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 5.65 ppb, 94x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 11.9 ppb, 79x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for Rochester (system ID MN1550010) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Rochester
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Rochester's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Rochester's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.129 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 129× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
5.65 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 94× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
11.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 79× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.85 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 47× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.98 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 40× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.65 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.99 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.821 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.2× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0875 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.9× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0521 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
27.6 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0875 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.00188 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.025 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Heptachlor epoxide Other |
0.000419 ppb | 0.006 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
43.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0102 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.00475 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.0625 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.443 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.148 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.233 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.701 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.33 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from Rochester.