Custer, SD

Low Risk (9/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Custer in South Dakota · Population: 8,686

SDWIS systems such as CUSTER; HERMOSA WATER USERS ASSOCIATION; FAIRBURN WATER ASSOCIATION anchor Custer, SD's EPA extract. Derived burden score 9/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

No TRI Form R facilities sit in Custer in this extract; water coverage still lists CUSTER; HERMOSA WATER USERS ASSOCIATION; FAIRBURN WATER ASSOCIATION. AQS monitors logged median AQI 44 / peak 126 in 2024.

Burden score 9/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Custer -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

County population (Census ACS)
8,686
TRI Facilities
0
Water Systems
4
Superfund Sites
0
Total Releases
0 lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 276 (75%) 81 9 126
2023 308 (84%) 48 4 167
2022 298 (82%) 62 2 130
2021 302 (83%) 59 2 209
2020 323 (88%) 41 2 119
2024 Good Air Quality: 75% of days
Unhealthy days: 9
Median AQI: 44

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in South Dakota, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (4)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
CUSTER 1,919 0
HERMOSA WATER USERS ASSOCIATION 108 2
FAIRBURN WATER ASSOCIATION 65 4
NORTH HERMOSA WUD 40 1

Cities in Custer (3)

Hermosa
0 facilities · 2 water
Custer
0 facilities · 1 water
Fairburn
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Custer, South Dakota?
Custer, SD has an environmental risk score of 9/100 (Low Risk), based on 0 TRI facilities, 0 Superfund sites, and 4 water systems on record. 3 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Custer?
No Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites are currently registered in Custer, SD in the EPA database.
How many toxic release facilities are in Custer?
Custer, SD has 0 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Custer?
In 2024, Custer, SD recorded a median AQI of 44 and a peak AQI of 126. 75% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Custer?
Custer, SD has 4 EPA-regulated water systems. 3 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Custer?
Environmental compliance in Custer, South Dakota is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the South Dakota state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro