Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
Rochester
Rochester delivers tap water graded B (76/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 123,624 residents in Rochester, Minnesota using groundwater. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 5072801601.
Is Rochester tap water safe to drink?
Rochester delivers tap water that earns a grade of B (76/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a good rating, with only minor concerns relative to health-based guidelines.
The utility serves 123,624 residents in Rochester, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
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.
Quick actions for Rochester residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for 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.
Contact Rochester
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Rochester
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 76/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Rochester service area
This water system serves 1 community in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Rochester water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.