EPA Urges Action on Contaminated Drinking Water in Southeast Minnesota

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that over 9,200 residents in eight southeast Minnesota counties may be drinking well water contaminated with unsafe levels of nitrate, likely caused by farming pollution. The EPA has requested state agencies to immediately notify residents, provide alternative drinking water, and develop plans to lower nitrate levels. Nitrate ingestion can lead to health issues such as increased heart rate, nausea, headaches, abdominal cramps, and an increased risk of cancer in adults. Bottle-fed babies consuming contaminated water are at a higher risk of developing methemoglobinemia, which can be fatal if left untreated. Private well owners are advised to test for nitrate every other year.