WINTER 1999
2305 East 5th Street
Duluth Minnesota 55812-1445

seamless delivery
 
"Seamless delivery of services" is in vogue these days at Minnesota environmental regulatory agencies. Essentially, seamless delivery of services refers to a solution to the age-old problem of knowing who to contact for what problem. In general, the public does not know which office within which agency to go to for specific questions regarding water resources or environmental issues. For instance, most people do not know, until they have to get a well drilled, that the Minnesota Department of Health regulates well drilling.

Many agencies are involved in environmental regulation and assistance. It is difficult even for those within the field to keep track of whom is doing what. Therefore, the goal of seamless delivery is to have the agency you call be able to help you answer your question no matter what. This involves interagency coordination and an understanding by agency staff about what resources other agencies offer. For instance, if someone calls the MPCA about aquatic plant management, the individual at the MPCA should be able to refer that person to the correct office at the DNR.

In many ways seamless delivery is one of the main goals of the University of Minnesota Water Line, that is, to decrease the confusion people are presented with when trying to decide where to go for a particular question. When people call the Water Line with a question, they will get the best answer that we can provide, along with a list of any agency contacts that may also be helpful.

ground water education grant gets funded
 
A grant to develop and assemble a ground water information notebook and hold informational workshops on ground water resources was funded under a Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Challenge Grant. This will enable us to search nationwide for ground water educational materials that are applicable to Minnesota and put the materials into an easy-to-read manual for local government and agency staff. Other ideas are to include educational pieces that can be used in local papers and newsletters. This will enable people to cut out sections that are relevant to their area and use them without a large time investment in creating the pieces. Watch for further information about the development and delivery of the educational notebooks. The grant was submitted by the Arrowhead Water Quality Team through the Carlton City Water Plan.

 

MDH publishes new well owners handbook
 
Do you own a well in Minnesota? Are you interested in understanding your well system? If so, the Minnesota Department of Health has a new handbook for you. The handbook is free of charge to residents of Minnesota. This 30-page owner's manual provides information to the well owner on:

• groundwater
• how a well is constructed
• how a water system works
• well water contaminants
• how to have a well properly sealed
• what can be done to keep the well water safe to drink

To obtain a copy call MDH at 651.215.0811 or 1-800-383-9808.

question of the season
 
How often should I get my well tested and what should I test it for?

Regular testing of your well is important. You should have your well tested every year as recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health. You should also test your water if any work is done on the plumbing, if you or your family are experiencing gastrointestinal illness, or if you suspect that your ground water supply is contaminated.

Now, what should you test for? Many people want to test their well water for "everything." This approach, while admirable, is not practical. There are just too many compounds and chemicals that one could test for, which makes this approach far too costly. A more sensible and cost-effective approach is to test for a couple of parameters that are good indicators of health-related contamination. The standard water test for health concerns consists of testing for nitrates and coliform bacteria. Both are generally a good indication of surface water contamination. Nitrates can come from improper fertilizer applications or a poorly operating septic system. Coliform bacteria are a group of bacteria that serve as an indicator for potentially harmful bacteria. Coliform bacteria can come from surface waters or septic systems and may or may not include harmful pathogenic bacteria.

Call your local county health department office to obtain a water testing kit. The kits usually run between $20 and $30. If you have further questions, ask your local county health department staff.