Water Quality

Sioux Falls gets its water from the Big Sioux River, the Big Sioux Aquifer, the Middle Skunk Creek Aquifer, and the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System. City drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water safety standards. Additionally, our water is tested daily for potential contaminants and substances not currently regulated by the federal government.

The Public Works Water Division works to make sure our drinking water is not only potable, but that it tastes great. Success in achieving that earned Sioux Falls the first-place ranking as best tasting water in South Dakota in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021. In 2022, Sioux Falls won first place in the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems’ taste test. It also placed third in the 2022 competition for best tasting water at the American Water Works Association, our first national recognition.