This commentary originally appeared in MinnPost. I think Bluestem readers will appreciate Judy Helgen's opinion, given earlier coverage published here.
Can the state control nitrates in Minnesota waters?
By Judy Helgen, MinnPostThe state’s health standard for nitrates in drinking water is 10 mg/L. Many wells exceed this level, but the state does not test nor does it oversee water quality of private drinking water wells.
In Minnesota, warning flags are up because harmful nitrates are contaminating surface waters and private wells. See McVan, Agriculture pollutes underground drinking water in Minnesota. Well owners pay the price. In April a formal petition was submitted to the U.S. EPA by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) and other environmental groups raising the alarm that nitrate contamination in southeastern Minnesota waters is an “imminent and substantial endangerment to public health.” Land applications of manure from animal feedlots and excessive use of nitrate fertilizers in this area must be reduced to protect public health.
The state’s health standard for nitrates in drinking water is 10 mg/L. Many wells exceed this level, but the state does not test nor does it oversee water quality of private drinking water wells. Studies suggest the standard should be reduced to 2 mg/L. There is some good news: nitrate levels in 96.7 % of public drinking water supplies are in the 0-3 mg/L range; less than 1% of public water supplies have 5-10 mg/L; and none exceed 10.
What about other waters – lakes, wetlands, and streams where a diversity of awe-inspiring underwater creatures depend on clean water? To date, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has no water quality standard for nitrates in surface waters – yet they have documented elevated nitrates in some streams, lakes and urban ponds. In 2010, the agency was given a state grant by the Legislature to create a water quality standard for nitrates in surface waters, but they didn’t.
In 2012 MPCA and other agencies produced a major report on nitrogen in Minnesota, but not about its environmental impacts. A stunning 158 million pounds of nitrates flow every year from Minnesota landscapes into the Mississippi River, 73% of this coming from agricultural sources – crop land and feed lots.
Related posts
- Strib: MPCA spent $600,000 studying nitrate pollution but decided regulations wouldn't work
- It's all over now, baby blue? EWG analysis concludes nitrates rising in MN drinking water
- Growing chemical threat: MN Dept of Health annual drinking water report warns about nitrates
- Land of nitrate-tinted water: Adrian MN only most extreme example in state's groundwater games
- Rep. Torkelson dismisses concerns about nitrates in Minnesota's drinking water
- Check out MN water nitrate presentations Paul Torkelson didn't want shared with subcommittee
- Nitrates: Brown Co turns down MDA well testing aid because somebody might blame farmers
- Rep. Torkelson dismisses concerns about nitrates in Minnesota's drinking water
- Paging Rep. Torkelson: City of Fairmont issues water advisory, nitrate levels unsafe for infants
- Going with the flow: fertilizer elevated nitrate levels in Fairmont's drinking water supply
- Free Press: Nitrates in Mankato's drinking water wells will cost Southern Minnesota's Key City
- Randall, MN receives national drinking water award, but some citizens still buy bottled water
- Republican guy who voted for Minnesota's buffer bill continues to grandstand against it
Photo: Jos Speetjens on Unsplash, via MinnPost.
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