Addressing nitrate in southeastern Minnesota

Safe drinking water is essential for the health and well-being of all Minnesotans. In southeastern Minnesota, approximately 300,000 people rely on 93 community water systems. More than 93,000 Minnesotans rely on private wells. The Minnesota Departments of Health and Agriculture and the Pollution Control Agency, along with local governments, are working together to protect drinking water supplies.

Unfortunately, too much nitrate — a form of nitrogen — is polluting Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and groundwater. On average, 158 million pounds of nitrate leave Minnesota per year in the Mississippi River. More than 70% of the nitrate in Minnesota waters comes from cropland, with a vast majority from commercial fertilizer applied on fields. The remaining sources of nitrate include wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, and urban runoff.

Nitrate in lakes, rivers, and streams is toxic to fish and other aquatic life. In drinking water, nitrate can be harmful to human health, especially babies. Consuming too much nitrate can affect how blood carries oxygen.

MPCA monitoring shows that many of our southern Minnesota rivers and streams have enough nitrate to potentially harm aquatic life, although no water quality standard has yet been established. Areas of southeast Minnesota are vulnerable because of shallow bedrock, sinkholes, and underground caves, which lead to exchanges between surface and groundwater resources. 

To further help address nitrate, the State of Minnesota established the Southeast Minnesota Nitrate Strategies Collaborative Work Group to: 

• build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities of addressing nitrate pollution in southeastern Minnesota

• deliberate and build consensus on ways to strengthen the long-term nitrate reduction strategies

• develop recommendations for improving, prioritizing, and implementing strategies, including strengthening communication and engagement activities, policy or funding proposals, or collaborative strategies to accelerate prevention and mitigation activities

More info can be found here in the report