Skip to main content
Minnesota Department of Health logo
  • Main navigation

    • Home
    • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
    • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
    • Individual and Family Health
    • About Us
    • News and Announcements
    • Translated Materials

Main navigation mobile

  • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
  • Diseases and Conditions
  • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
  • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
  • Individual and Family Health
  • About Us
  • News and Announcements
  • Translated Materials
MDH Logo

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. News and Announcements
  3. News Releases
Topic Menu

News and Announcements

  • News and Announcements Home
  • 2025 News Releases
  • 2024 News Releases
  • 2023 News Releases
  • 2022 News Releases
  • 2021 News Releases
  • Resources for Reporters
  • Information Officers

News and Announcements

  • News and Announcements Home
  • 2025 News Releases
  • 2024 News Releases
  • 2023 News Releases
  • 2022 News Releases
  • 2021 News Releases
  • Resources for Reporters
  • Information Officers

News Release
June 7, 2024

Contact information

Health officials to hold public meetings in southeast Minnesota to discuss nitrate in drinking water

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) invites private well owners in southeastern Minnesota to attend a public meeting in their area to learn about what is being done to address health concerns about nitrate in drinking water.

Porous geology makes wells in southeastern Minnesota especially susceptible to nitrate contamination from fertilizer, manure, wastewater and faulty septic systems. Consuming too much nitrate can cause babies to develop methemoglobinemia (also known as blue baby syndrome), which can be fatal.

MDH has scheduled three in-person meetings and one virtual meeting. Each in-person meeting will include a presentation from MDH along with an open house during which attendees can ask MDH and partner staff specific questions. 

The in-person meeting dates and locations are: 

  • Stewartville — Wednesday, June 12
    Open house from 5 to 8 p.m., presentation at 6 p.m.
    Stewartville Community Center 105 First St. E., Stewartville, Minn. 55976
  • Rushford — Wednesday, June 26 
    Open house from 4 to 8 p.m., presentation at 6:30 p.m.
    Rushford – Peterson Public School, 1000 Pine Meadows Lane, Rushford, Minn. 55971
    Free nitrate screening will be available starting at 4 p.m. Bring a sample of your private well drinking water from your kitchen tap in a clean glass jar to have it screened for nitrates. This service is provided by Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District. 
  • Mazeppa — Thursday, June 27 
    Open house from 5 to 8 p.m., presentation at 6 p.m.
    Mazeppa Community Center, 278 First Ave. N., Mazeppa, Minn. 55956

For those who cannot attend in person, a virtual meeting will take place on Thursday, June 20, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Join the MDH EPA Response Public Meeting in Teams.

On Nov. 3, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requested that MDH, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture develop a coordinated and comprehensive work plan to reduce nitrate contamination of drinking water aquifers in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties.

More information about how MDH has responded to the EPA can be found on MDH’s website at MDH Response to Southeast Minnesota EPA Requests.

If you have questions, please contact health.privatewells@state.mn.us. 

 -MDH- 

Media inquiries:
Amy Barrett
MDH Communications 
651-201-4993
amy.barrett@state.mn.us

Tags
  • news
Last Updated: 06/07/2024

Get email updates


Minnesota Department of Health logo

Privacy Policy
Equal Opportunity
Translated Materials
Feedback Form
About MDH
Minnesota.gov
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of health print search share facebook instagram linkedin twitter youtube