Environmental Health Division
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Environmental Health Division
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NEW Report release:
PFAS Biomonitoring Best Practices for Minnesota Firefighters
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released a new expert report on best practices for PFAS biomonitoring for Minnesota firefighters, developed under legislative direction and in partnership with Eastern Research Group and Minnesota firefighter associations. The report outlines evidence-based, practical recommendations for conducting firefighter biomonitoring in ways that are scientifically sound, equitable, and informed by real-world conditions in fire service. MDH is now applying these recommendations to a three-year, statewide biomonitoring project that will help characterize PFAS exposure among firefighters across Minnesota. The report can be found at PFAS Biomonitoring for Minnesota Firefighters.
Free private well drinking water testing ramps up in southeast Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Health and Tap-In Collaborative are offering free water test kits for private well users in eight southeast Minnesota counties in response to requests for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This response is helping private well owners better understand and protect their drinking water. As of September 30, 2,315 free well water test kits have been ordered, reaching 64% of the 3,600-kit goal, with 376 kits returned and analyzed between July and September 2025. Testing shows that about 7% of samples (102 wells) had nitrate levels at or above the health-based limit of 10 mg/L. To reduce exposure, 226 free reverse osmosis water treatment systems have already been installed in homes with elevated nitrate levels, providing safer drinking water for families most at risk.
What to Expect: Home Lead Risk Assessment
The Minnesota Department of Health's Lead Program has a new video called What to Expect: Home Lead Risk Assessment (YouTube). This video can help families understand and see the process of a typical home lead risk assessment if their home is ever checked for sources of lead. Additional Lead resources can be found at Lead Fact Sheets, Videos and Brochures.
MDH launch state’s first Drinking Water Action Plan
Minnesota officially released the first official Minnesota Drinking Water Action Plan (PDF). The Plan is a 10-year framework of actions for ensuring everyone, everywhere in Minnesota has safe and sufficient drinking water. The Plan both uplifts many of the efforts underway and names some areas where there is need for more support and attention, including:
- Addressing the unfair challenges over 1.2 million private well users face and the challenges nearly 800 small city water systems face in testing for and addressing contaminants.
- Reducing the impacts from flooding and other climate change-related events on drinking water.
- Upgrading and modernizing data systems that house water quality data.
- Working with communities throughout Minnesota to understand their drinking water priorities and concerns.
The Plan, signed by MDH and six other agencies, represents our shared commitment ensuring that anyone, anywhere in Minnesota, can be confident it is safe to drink the water when they turn on the tap.
Lead in Drinking Water Testing for Schools and Child Cares
Kids are headed back to school, and Minnesota is working to make sure students have safe drinking water available while they learn. Through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, MDH is helping public schools, charter schools, licensed child care providers, and Head Start programs test for lead in drinking water. This program provides free sample kits and laboratory analysis to identify lead in drinking water. MDH staff also provides training and technical assistance to help facilities interpret results, and understand rule requirements.
Program is open to:
- Head Start Programs.
- Licensed Child Care Programs.
- Schools.
Encourage your school to learn more about this program at Minnesota Lead in Drinking Water Testing for Schools and Child Cares.
Licensing System
Minnesota Department of Health Licensing System is available for Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM), Registered Environmental Health Specialists/Registered Sanitarians (REHS/RS), Lead, Asbestos and Wells and Boring.
EH topics
The Environmental Health Division (EH) works on multiple topics to support the health of all Minnesotans. You can search these topics on the Topic Index webpage.
Minnesota Office of Accessibility
State of Minnesota’s free e-Learning program on how to create accessible documents.