About Noncommunity Public Water Supplies

A noncommunity public water supply provides water to the public in places other than their homes—where people work, gather and play. There are around 6,000 supplies in Minnesota.

A noncommunity public water supply:

• is served by their own supply of water, usually a well, and,
• are places such as schools, factories, churches, resorts, and restaurants.

A noncommunity public water supply must:

• meet federal drinking water standards,
• provide a safe and adequate supply of water,
• sample, test and treat the drinking water supply,
• keep a record of water sampling and inspections,
• take action to make necessary corrections,
• protect the sources of water, and
• notify the consumers and users about problems with the water supply.

Safe drinking water is no accident. Many different experts protect this valuable resource. The Minnesota Department of Health works with the public water supply to:

• collect many of the required water samples,
• provide water sampling supplies and financial assistance for testing and analyzing,
• routinely conduct inspections,
• ensure contamination issues are resolved and corrective action is taken,
• provide technical assistance and plan review,
• coordinate training for water operators, and
• develop information and guidance resources on commonly asked topics as they refer to public drinking water.