We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Minnesota to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Waite Park, Minnesota
Waite Park has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Waite Park water report →Cloquet, Minnesota
Cloquet has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Cloquet water report →Oakdale, Minnesota
Oakdale has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Oakdale water report →Alexandria, Minnesota
Alexandria has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Alexandria water report →Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Brooklyn Park has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Brooklyn Park water report →Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hastings water report →Apple Valley, Minnesota
Apple Valley has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Apple Valley water report →Rosemount, Minnesota
Rosemount has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Rosemount water report →Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Woodbury water report →Sauk Rapids, Minnesota
Sauk Rapids has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Sauk Rapids water report →Shakopee, Minnesota
Shakopee has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Shakopee water report →Stillwater, Minnesota
Stillwater has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Stillwater water report →Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
Brooklyn Center has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Brooklyn Center water report →Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Cottage Grove has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Cottage Grove water report →Plymouth, Minnesota
Plymouth has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Plymouth water report →Roseville, Minnesota
Roseville has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Roseville water report →Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Robbinsdale has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Robbinsdale water report →Bigelow, Minnesota
Bigelow has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bigelow water report →St. Paul, Minnesota
St. Paul has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full St. Paul water report →Burnsville, Minnesota
Burnsville has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Burnsville water report →Arden Hills, Minnesota
Arden Hills has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Arden Hills water report →Becker, Minnesota
Becker has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Becker water report →Farmington, Minnesota
Farmington has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Farmington water report →Anoka, Minnesota
Anoka has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Anoka water report →Fairmont, Minnesota
Fairmont has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fairmont water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5). These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 372 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 13 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 359 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waite Park | MN | 26 | 19 | 3 | 8,341 |
| 2 | Cloquet | MN | 29 | 18 | 0 | 11,295 |
| 3 | Oakdale | MN | 32 | 17 | 3 | 28,303 |
| 4 | Alexandria | MN | 26 | 17 | 2 | 13,554 |
| 5 | Brooklyn Park | MN | 30 | 16 | 0 | 89,995 |
| 6 | Hastings | MN | 31 | 15 | 1 | 23,222 |
| 7 | Apple Valley | MN | 28 | 15 | 0 | 50,300 |
| 8 | Rosemount | MN | 28 | 15 | 0 | 22,445 |
| 9 | Woodbury | MN | 27 | 15 | 2 | 82,643 |
| 10 | Sauk Rapids | MN | 27 | 15 | 0 | 13,083 |
| 11 | Shakopee | MN | 26 | 15 | 0 | 40,610 |
| 12 | Stillwater | MN | 26 | 15 | 0 | 19,389 |
| 13 | Brooklyn Center | MN | 25 | 15 | 0 | 33,782 |
| 14 | Cottage Grove | MN | 29 | 14 | 2 | 39,712 |
| 15 | Plymouth | MN | 27 | 14 | 0 | 81,026 |
| 16 | Roseville | MN | 27 | 14 | 0 | 33,660 |
| 17 | Robbinsdale | MN | 27 | 14 | 0 | 14,300 |
| 18 | Bigelow | MN | 26 | 14 | 0 | 235 |
| 19 | St. Paul | MN | 25 | 14 | 0 | 365,136 |
| 20 | Burnsville | MN | 25 | 14 | 0 | 61,747 |
| 21 | Arden Hills | MN | 25 | 14 | 0 | 9,637 |
| 22 | Becker | MN | 21 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Farmington | MN | 28 | 13 | 0 | 23,534 |
| 24 | Anoka | MN | 28 | 13 | 0 | 18,000 |
| 25 | Fairmont | MN | 25 | 13 | 0 | 10,328 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Minnesota?
Based on 2026 data, Waite Park, MN has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
