Common Problems with Minnesota Water

Many states have problems with their water quality, and unfortunately, Minnesota is no different. Minnesotans have been aware of these issues for quite some time and even passed the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. There seem to be plenty of state agencies trying to solve our water problems, but it’s hard to tell if things are actually getting any better. More recently, the Clean Water Roadmap was put in place, but that is only supposed to clean up about 8% of Minnesota’s lakes during a 20-year period. Even though we are more than 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean, salty water has become a problem in our state. Not only does that water impact fish and other marine life, it also impacts groundwater used for drinking.

Chloride presents huge problems because just one teaspoon can permanently pollute five gallons of water, and there isn’t an easy way to remove it from the water. During the extremely cold winters in Minnesota, the salt we use on snow and ice ends up getting into our lakes, streams, and groundwater. That’s why there is a recent push to use sand and other alternate products for de-icing purposes.

There are also high levels of mercury in northern Minnesota. This chemical affects neurological development in infants, and in that region, one out of 10 babies are born with unhealthy amounts of mercury. Southern Minnesota also has issues including high nitrate levels which can cause blue baby syndrome and other serious conditions.

With all these problems with Minnesota water, it can be scary thinking about how drinking that water can negatively impact the health of you and your family. Other common water problems include hard water, cloudy water, a chlorine taste or smell, and more. To help solve your home’s water problems, contact Schultz Soft Water at 320-251-4100 or visit our website for more information.