Recognizing
that Minnesotans’ health and quality of life depend on an ample supply
of safe drinking water, Governor Mark Dayton has declared May 1-7 as
Safe Drinking Water Week in Minnesota. In observance of the week, state
health officials are inviting Minnesotans to consider what they can do
in their homes and communities to protect their drinking water sources
and help ensure safe drinking water.
The week coincides with
National Drinking Water Week,
which celebrates the contributions of public water supply operators in
providing safe drinking water for the nation’s residents. In Minnesota,
there are more than 7,000 public water supply systems providing drinking
water to more than 80 percent of the state’s residents.
“We all
must do our part in maintaining this valuable resource – from the source
to the tap,” said Randy Ellingboe, manager of the Drinking Water
Protection program for the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). “From
both a health and cost standpoint, it is better to prevent problems than
to fix them after they’ve happened.”
Earlier this year, Governor
Dayton proposed a $219.7 million plan to modernize Minnesota’s aging
wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, and to protect groundwater
from contamination. While the work of thousands of public water supply
operators around the state is vital in providing safe drinking water and
protecting its sources, there are things people can do in their homes,
yards and neighborhoods to protect the quality and quantity of drinking
water sources. For example, in your home:
- Fix leaking faucets.
- Run full loads of laundry or dishes.
- Use biodegradable soaps.
- Don’t flush leftover medicines down the drain. Learn how to dispose of them properly.
- Use water-saving appliances.
In your yard or property:
- Use water-saving landscaping.
- Minimize use of fertilizers and pesticides.
- Seal any unused wells on your property.
- If you have a septic system, make sure it’s properly maintained.
In your neighborhood or community:
- Know
where your water comes from (whether ground or surface water), and be
aware of the areas that most need protection from contamination. In many
communities, Drinking Water Supply Management Areas have been
identified – these are key areas for protection. Contact your public
water utility for more information about this.
Minnesota has
maintained one of the highest rates of compliance to the federal Safe
Drinking Water Act in the country. In addition to routinely checking the
drinking water to ensure its safety, MDH works with communities to keep
the water from corroding water main pipes and plumbing. If the water is
too corrosive, it can absorb harmful contaminants like lead. Whenever a
public water supply changes its source of water, the operators must
work with MDH engineers to understand any changes in water chemistry and
take steps to prevent problems.
People can also take actions in
their homes to reduce the potential for lead in their drinking water,
which can come from their service lines (the pipe that connects homes to
the water main in the street) or plumbing fixtures, such as faucets.
- When
tap water has been sitting in pipes overnight or for long periods,
before using it for drinking, cooking or brushing teeth, run the water
for a few minutes or until it feels cold to the touch. This will flush
out water that may have absorbed trace amounts of lead. Use that water
for watering plants or cleaning.
- Choose to do other tasks that
use water to flush the pipes first thing in the morning before drinking
or cooking, such as shower, flush toilets, or wash clothes or dishes.
- Fill
a pitcher during periods of regular water usage and keep it in the
refrigerator for drinking, or use a pitcher filter designed to remove
lead.
Safe drinking water is essential not just for physical
health, but for jobs and a healthy economy in the state, said Jim
Sadler, water superintendent for the City of Maple Grove and current
chair of the Minnesota Section of American Water Works Association.
“Communities depend on a safe and reliable supply of water,” Sadler said. “If that goes away, so does any economic development.”
Protecting
sources of water is the first step in providing safe water. Efforts in
recent years to identify potential sources of contamination and keep
them away from lakes, streams and underground sources of water has
proven to be cost effective.
Regardless of how well-protected a
water source is, public water systems may still need to treat their
water. Owners and operators of public water systems work with MDH to
identify harmful contaminants and take steps to remove or treat them in
order to provide safe, reliable drinking water. Drinking Water
Protection staff at MDH routinely sample the water at public water
systems for more than 100 different type of chemicals or contaminants.
For additional information on drinking water, see MDH
Drinking Water Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Ground Water and Drinking Water.
