October 09, 2025
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Minnesota launches 10-year Drinking Water Action Plan to address PFAS and nitrate contamination

Minnesota launched a 10-year Drinking Water Action Plan to tackle PFAS and nitrate contamination, with the Minnesota Department of Health reporting 97% of the state's drinking water meets federal standards while about 3% of communities fall below standards due to excessive nitrate and arsenic. The plan — financed by the Clean Water Fund (which expires in 2034) and updated every two years — directs the Clean Water Council to fund grants for testing and remediation, cites projects like a $330 million Woodbury treatment plant funded in part by the 3M settlement, and responds to more PFAS-positive residential wells and a PFAS plume moving toward the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.

Environment Health

📌 Key Facts

  • Minnesota has launched a 10-year Drinking Water Action Plan to address PFAS and nitrate contamination.
  • The Minnesota Department of Health reports 97% of the state's drinking water meets federal safety standards, while about 3% of communities fall below standards due to excessive nitrate and arsenic.
  • The action plan will be updated every two years and is financed by Minnesota's Clean Water Fund, which is set to expire in 2034.
  • The Clean Water Council will provide grant funding to help communities test for and address threats to drinking water.
  • More residential wells are being flagged with PFAS health advisories because of increased and improved testing, and a PFAS plume is moving toward the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.
  • Municipal responses funded by the 3M settlement include large projects such as a $330 million Woodbury effort to build a new treatment plant and replace miles of piping.

📰 Sources (2)

Minnesota launches Drinking Water Action Plan to deal with PFAS, nitrate contamination
FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul by Joe.Augustine@fox.com (Joe Augustine) October 09, 2025
New information:
  • MDH reported 97% of the state's drinking water meets federal safety standards, while 3% of communities fell below standards due to excessive nitrate and arsenic.
  • The Clean Water Council will fund grants for communities to test for and address threats to drinking water.
  • The action plan will be updated every two years and is financed by Minnesota's Clean Water Fund, which expires in 2034.
  • Fox9 cites a $330 million Woodbury project to build a new treatment plant and replace miles of piping as an example of municipal responses funded by the 3M settlement.
  • Fox9 reports more residential wells are being flagged with PFAS health advisories due to increased and improved testing, and describes the PFAS plume moving toward the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.
Minnesota's Drinking Water Action Plan to be revealed Thursday
FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul by Bill.Keller@fox.com (Bill Keller) October 09, 2025