Rochester, Minnesota Water Outage Today
Live Rochester water outage reports, Rochester Public Utilities’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Rochester, Minnesota in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Rochester?
Drinking water in Rochester, Minnesota is supplied by Rochester Public Utilities, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Minnesota are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Health.
To report no water or a main break, call Rochester Public Utilities at 507-280-9191.
Who runs the water in Rochester: system profile
EPA lists one municipal water system for Rochester, serving about 123,624 people. Customers know it as Rochester Public Utilities; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Rochester (MN1550010) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 123,624 through 42,243 service connections |
| Source of the water | Groundwater (wells) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 30 active wells, 30 treatment points, 6 pump facilities |
| State regulator | Minnesota Department of Health |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 7 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Source water and treatment in Rochester
Rochester drinks groundwater. Rochester pumps it from 30 active wells and treats it before it goes into the mains. After treatment the water is held in 6 pump facilities, which is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
Why this matters when the water stops. Groundwater only reaches the tap while pump motors are turning, so electricity is the weak point. After a storm or grid failure the first question is which wells have backup generators; Rochester Public Utilities can tell you whether yours do.
Main breaks and shutoffs in Rochester: the usual causes
Water outages are local, so the likely cause depends on weather, pipe age and the grid. For Rochester, these stand out.
- Freezing weather. Rochester sees about 158 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 79 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 31, 2019. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 32 days, ending March 8, 2019. Frost pushes into shallow service lines first. Mains follow when the ground heaves and thaws, which is why break counts climb a day or two after the temperature swings.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Olmsted County number 201 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on Rochester Public Utilities run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 29 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Olmsted County from 2015 through 2026, and 6 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Floodwater can undercut pipe crossings, swamp pump stations and overload treatment plants, and a notice to boil water often follows when it enters the system.
- Construction and third-party damage. A backhoe or boring crew that hits a main is among the most common reasons a single block goes dry without warning. Utilities handle those the same way as any break: isolate, repair, flush.
- Scheduled work, or a fault inside your own home. Utilities warn customers before a planned shutoff. If nothing was announced and the neighbors are fine, the cause is probably your shutoff valve, meter or pressure regulator.
How weather strains the Rochester water system
Main break season in Rochester runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 157.6 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 79.1 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 66.2 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 0.6 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.3 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 6.1 |
| Average annual precipitation | 36.1 in |
| Wettest year | 2019 (47.2 in) |
| Driest year | 2021 (28.6 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 31, 2019 |
| Hottest day in the record | August 23, 2023 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 30.7 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2019 with 47.2 inches; the driest was 2021 with 28.6. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
A note on the numbers: they are modeled for the city center and averaged over eleven years, so they show how often Rochester sees each kind of weather, not what any one thermometer read on a given day.
Boil water advisories and the federal violation record for Rochester
EPA lists no health-based violations for Rochester since 2015.
When Rochester loses pressure after a break or a failed test, Rochester Public Utilities asks affected customers to boil water for drinking and cooking. The notice ends only after samples come back clean, which usually takes one to two days after service returns, and the Minnesota Department of Health supervises the process.
What the lead tests and housing age say about Rochester
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Rochester is 7 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is well under it.
Highest result on file: 7 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 28.6% of occupied homes in Rochester predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Rochester Public Utilities whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
How long a water outage lasts in Rochester
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Rochester usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | Roughly 4 to 8 working hours |
| Large or deep main | A day or two, sometimes three |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Hours to a day, once power or the pump is restored |
| Boil water notice after service returns | Until two clean rounds of samples, usually 1 to 2 days |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
For a break that affects many customers, Rochester Public Utilities usually posts an estimated restoration time. When you call, ask the dispatcher what the crew has told them.
Preparing for a long water outage in Rochester
The average household in Rochester has about 2.4 people, so FEMA's minimum of one gallon per person per day comes to roughly 7 gallons for three days and 33 gallons for two weeks.
- Do not forget the water heater: the tank holds roughly 30 to 50 gallons you can drink after it is switched off and allowed to cool.
- Fill the bathtub and a few large pots as soon as you hear a break is likely; that water is for flushing and washing, not drinking.
How Rochester compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | Rochester | 123,624 | Ground | 0 | 7 |
| Bloomington, MN | Bloomington | 91,300 | Bought (surface) | 0 | 5 |
| St. Paul, MN | Saint Paul Regional Water Services | 392,529 | Surface | 1 | 17 |
| Eau Claire, WI | Eau Claire Waterworks | 70,587 | Ground | 0 | 7.6 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis | 425,300 | Surface | 0 | 4 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Bloomington, MN · St. Paul, MN · Eau Claire, WI · Minneapolis, MN
Rochester boil water notices and main breaks
Rochester Public Utilities posts Rochester boil water notices, main breaks and planned shutoffs on its own site and alerts. What a notice requires: water outage guide.
Rochester frequently asked water questions
Who do I call about no water in Rochester?
Rochester Public Utilities at 507-280-9191, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does Rochester get its water?
Groundwater supplies Rochester, according to EPA records for the city water system.
Is Rochester tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists no health-based violations for Rochester since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 7 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
What time of year are Rochester water main breaks most common?
Breaks in Rochester pile up in the cold, with about 158 freezing days a year and the worst stretch from December to February. The days right after a deep freeze, when the soil thaws and shifts, are usually the busiest.
What causes low water pressure in Rochester?
Low pressure often comes from a nearby main break, heavy demand on a hot evening, or a failed pressure regulator at your own home. If neighbors are affected too, report it to Rochester Public Utilities; if only your home is, check the regulator and shutoff valve.
How long does a boil water notice last in Rochester?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so Rochester Public Utilities cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the Minnesota Department of Health sets the rules for that process.
How much drinking water should I keep at home in Rochester?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average Rochester household has about 2.4 people, which works out to roughly 7 gallons for three days and 33 for two weeks.
Does Rochester have lead pipes?
It depends on the age of your home. About 28.6% of occupied homes in Rochester were built before 1970, and lead service lines remained legal until 1986. Contact Rochester Public Utilities about your address and flush the cold tap after any outage.
How do I check for water outages near me in Rochester?
This page shows resident reports from Rochester for the last 24 hours. For a street-by-street picture, use the alerts and outage page of Rochester Public Utilities; many utilities also text boil notices.
More outage pages for Rochester and nearby
Other outage types in Rochester
Water Service Outages in cities near Rochester
- Bloomington, MN 70 mi · City of Bloomington Utilities
- St. Paul, MN 71 mi · Saint Paul Regional Water Services
- Eau Claire, WI 73 mi · City of Eau Claire Utilities
- Minneapolis, MN 77 mi · Minneapolis Water Treatment & Distribution Services
- Cedar Rapids, IA 145 mi · Cedar Rapids Utilities
- Madison, WI 167 mi · Madison Water Utility
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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