Report: Little contamination in drinking water

Last update: May 12, 2009 - 11:09 PM

Tests on nearly 1,000 public water supply systems during the past year show little evidence of contamination in Minnesota, state health officials said Tuesday.

The annual report, started in 1995, includes results for bacteria, nitrate and other inorganic chemicals, radiological elements, and up to 118 chemicals and pesticides.

Among the 2008 findings:

•No systems exceeded current federal or state standards for pesticides or industrial contaminants.

•Detectable levels of coliform bacteria were found in 14 community water systems.

•While several cities in Minnesota continue to wrestle with arsenic in their groundwater, the vast majority of municipal drinking water systems had few problems. Thirteen community water systems still exceeded the standard for arsenic.

•Nineteen community water systems exceeded the standard for radium 226 and 228 at the end of 2008.

The 2008 report is available at tinyurl.com/rx8rsm.

PAUL WALSH