New Tool Shows PFAS Levels In Stillwater’s Drinking Water

STILLWATER, MN — Stillwater residents can now check on the levels of "forever chemicals" in their drinking water, thanks to a new online data dashboard launched Tuesday by state officials.

The Minnesota Department of Health's new dashboard displays the results of tests for PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — in public water systems across the state.

PFAS, also known as perfluorochemicals, are often called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment. Prolonged exposure to PFAS can lead to negative health effects, including higher cholesterol, thyroid disease, reduced immune response, changes to liver function and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer, according to the Department of Health.

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Tests have been conducted at more than 400 community water systems, which serve about 75 percent of all Minnesotans who use those systems, officials said.

Those tests revealed PFAS in about two-thirds of Minnesota's community water systems, though the "vast majority" had PFAS levels below current guidelines, according to the Department of Health.

"Some PFAS are commonly found at low levels in drinking water, but it's rare to find elevated PFAS in drinking water outside of communities with known contamination sites," MDH environmental research scientist Jane de Lambert said in a news release.

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A community water system in St. Paul Park was the only system to have PFAS levels over the guidelines, but officials said the city does "not typically" use the well that exceeded the limits.

More than 560 other community water systems in Minnesota have not been tested, as of Thursday, according to the dashboard. Officials said they expect 1 percent of those wells — about five — to have PFAS levels above the current guidelines.

Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm said the state's testing program and new dashboard are "just two examples of how Minnesota continues to be a national leader in providing safe drinking water."

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"With this new tool, Minnesotans will be able to see for themselves whether PFAS is a concern for the health of their communities and their families," Malcolm said in the release.

The new dashboard shows there are traces of at least 10 types of PFAS chemicals in Stillwater's community water system, though the city’s water is within the safety thresholds for PFAS, as set by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Bayport’s community water system had traces of three PFAS chemicals but is also within safety thresholds, according to the new dashboard.

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Contaminated groundwater in Washington County has been traced back to waste containing PFAS disposed of by 3M at disposal sites in Oakdale, Woodbury and Cottage Grove, as well as the former county landfill in Lake Elmo, according to county officials.

Woodbury has been forced to remove many of its municipal wells out of service in recent years due to high PFAS levels. Woodbury is working to build a permanent facility to treat its water for PFAS, a project that could take more than five years.

Minnesota reached an $850 million settlement agreement with 3M in 2018, with about $700 million to be directed to mitigate PFAS in drinking water in the Twin Cities' east metro.

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