Special Projects for Source Water Protection
Clean Water Fund

Testing for contaminants in drinking water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, and Clean Water Fund has allowed Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to conduct sampling for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other contaminants that are not regulated in drinking water.

Through the Statewide PFAS Monitoring Project, MDH is testing for PFAS at community water systems across the state for PFAS. The goal of this project is to evaluate whether Minnesotans are exposed to PFAS at levels above guidance values in drinking water. PFAS are commonly called 'forever chemicals' because they do not break down in the environment.

MDH has developed an Interactive Dashboard for PFAS Testing in Drinking Water for the public to access PFAS testing data and information from this project. The dashboard includes information about CWSs’ PFAS testing status, testing results, and whether their results are below or above available health-based guidance values.

Unregulated contaminants and contaminants of emerging concern

In the Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Project project, MDH is testing for unregulated contaminants in drinking water sources across the state.  Individuals and industries use thousands of chemicals and many can end up in water resources.  This project has helped us understand where unregulated contaminants occur and at what levels.  We are also learning how presence and levels of contaminants in drinking water are affected by treatment, nearby land uses, and local geology. A summary report for this project will be released in late 2022.

MDH conducted this study to better understand the threats posed by unregulated contaminants in drinking water and to protect the health of Minnesotans. MDH is using the results to set priorities for development of health-based guidance values and is establishing a Drinking Water Ambient Monitoring Program to continue and build upon this work.