Sioux Falls, South Dakota Water Outage Today
Live Sioux Falls water outage reports, Sioux Falls Utilities’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the last 24 hours
The most recent water outage report from Sioux Falls came in on September 25, 2026. Over the past 90 days, Sioux Falls residents filed 4 water outage reports here on 2 separate days; the busiest was September 24, with 3.
Who supplies water in Sioux Falls?
Drinking water in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is supplied by Sioux Falls Utilities, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in South Dakota are regulated by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR).
To report no water or a main break, call Sioux Falls Utilities at 605-367-8805.
Sioux Falls tap water system, by the numbers
Federal records show a single public water system behind the taps in Sioux Falls, with about 216,462 people on its mains. Customers know it as Sioux Falls Utilities; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Sioux Falls (SD4600294) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 216,462 through 63,541 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 2 surface intakes, 63 active wells, 1 treatment point, 9 storage tanks and reservoirs |
| Connections to other systems | 2 |
| State regulator | South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 3 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Source water and treatment in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls drinks surface water. Sioux Falls draws it from Diversion Channel 2 and Big Sioux Pump Stat. and treats it before it goes into the distribution system. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Treatment Plant. After treatment the water is held in 9 storage tanks and reservoirs, which is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
What this means in an outage. Because the water is drawn from open surface sources, it has to be filtered and disinfected continuously. A plant problem therefore hits everyone at once, unlike a main break, which only dries up the blocks on either side of the damaged pipe.
Why the water goes out in Sioux Falls
Which failures hit Sioux Falls hardest follows from its weather, its housing stock and how it is supplied.
- Freezing weather. Sioux Falls sees about 154 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 72 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 30, 2019. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 33 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.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 170 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Minnehaha County from 2015 through 2026, and 4 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.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Minnehaha County number 270 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on Xcel Energy run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Younger pipe, different risks. Only 25% of occupied homes in Sioux Falls predate 1970 (US 35.5%), so more of the network is newer plastic or ductile iron. Breaks tend to come from construction damage, pressure surges and weather rather than age.
- 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 Sioux Falls water system
Main break season in Sioux Falls 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 | 153.9 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 71.5 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 52.8 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 6.9 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 2.4 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 3.9 |
| Average annual precipitation | 26.1 in |
| Wettest year | 2019 (38.6 in) |
| Driest year | 2020 (17.5 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 30, 2019 |
| Hottest day in the record | August 2, 2022 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 30.9 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2019 with 38.6 inches; the driest was 2020 with 17.5. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The figures are reanalysis estimates for the center of Sioux Falls, not readings from a single weather station, so treat them as a guide to how often each kind of weather occurs rather than as official records.
Boil water advisories and the federal violation record for Sioux Falls
EPA lists no health-based violations for Sioux Falls since 2015.
When Sioux Falls loses pressure after a break or a failed test, Sioux Falls 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 South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) supervises the process.
Lead, older pipes and water quality in Sioux Falls
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Sioux Falls is 3 ppb (2024). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is comfortably below it.
Highest result on file: 3 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 25% of occupied homes in Sioux Falls predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Sioux Falls Utilities whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
How long a water outage lasts in Sioux Falls
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Sioux Falls 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 | 1 to 3 days |
| 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 | One to two days while samples are tested |
| Frozen service line or meter | Depends on thaw; a plumber is usually needed |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Ask Sioux Falls Utilities for a restoration estimate when you report the outage; for large breaks it is normally posted and updated as the repair progresses.
Preparing for a long water outage in Sioux Falls
The average household in Sioux Falls has about 2.3 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.
- If a planned shutoff or storm is coming, fill the tub and some buckets for flushing toilets and washing; keep drinking water in clean sealed containers.
How Sioux Falls compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | Sioux Falls | 216,462 | Surface | 0 | 3 |
| Sioux City, IA | Sioux City Water Supply | 85,791 | Mixed | 5 | 5 |
| Omaha, NE | Metropolitan Utilities District | 660,000 | Surface | 0 | 12.3 |
| Lincoln, NE | City of Lincoln | 296,000 | Mixed | 0 | 4.5 |
| Bloomington, MN | Bloomington | 91,300 | Bought (surface) | 0 | 5 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Sioux Falls boil water notices and main breaks
Sioux Falls Utilities posts Sioux Falls boil water notices, main breaks and planned shutoffs on its own site and alerts. What a notice requires: water outage guide.
Sioux Falls frequently asked water questions
Who do I call about no water in Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls Utilities at 605-367-8805, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Is Sioux Falls water from a river, lake or well?
Surface water supplies Sioux Falls, according to EPA records for the city water system. It draws from Diversion Channel 2 and Big Sioux Pump Stat.
Can you drink the tap water in Sioux Falls?
EPA lists no health-based violations for Sioux Falls since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 3 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. After a boil water notice, follow it until the utility lifts it.
When is water main break season in Sioux Falls?
Breaks in Sioux Falls pile up in the cold, with about 154 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 Sioux Falls?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand. If the whole street is affected, tell Sioux Falls Utilities; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
How long does a boil water notice last in Sioux Falls?
Usually 24 to 48 hours after pressure is restored. The utility has to collect samples, wait for the lab to confirm there is no bacteria, and then announce the all-clear. Sioux Falls Utilities posts notices and lifts them; the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) oversees the process.
How many gallons of emergency water does a Sioux Falls family need?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average Sioux Falls household has about 2.3 people, which works out to roughly 7 gallons for three days and 33 for two weeks.
Should I worry about lead in Sioux Falls water?
Lead pipe was legal until 1986, and 25% of occupied homes in Sioux Falls predate 1970, so it is possible in older neighborhoods. Sioux Falls Utilities can tell you what your service line is made of; a lead-certified filter is a sensible precaution if you are unsure.
Where can I see water outages in Sioux Falls?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of Sioux Falls have sent in over the last day, and Sioux Falls Utilities has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
Recent water reports in Sioux Falls
- Water reports in Sioux Falls, last 24h
- 0
- Most recent water report here
- September 25, 2026
- Water reports across South Dakota, last 24h
- 0
- City population
- 192,517
Other outage types in Sioux Falls
Water Service Outages in cities near Sioux Falls
- Sioux City, IA 74 mi · City of Sioux City Utilities
- Aberdeen, SD 159 mi · City of Aberdeen Water
- Omaha, NE 163 mi · Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.)
- Bellevue, NE 172 mi · Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.)
- Pierre, SD 189 mi · City of Pierre Utilities
- Lincoln, NE 190 mi · Lincoln Water System
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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