The Brief
- At least 420 private wells in the Twin Cities east metro were flagged in 2024 for having elevated levels of toxic PFAS chemicals in the water.
- The groundwater contamination traces back to when 3M dumped PFAS chemical waste at multiple locations in the east metro for decades.
- In total, more than 2,000 private wells in the contamination zone have been flagged for PFAS since the state began testing back in 2003.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Concentrations of toxic PFAS chemicals in the east metro’s ground water supply “appear to be slowly increasing” as the contamination plume approaches the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
East metro sees surge in private wells flagged for PFAS chemicals
By the numbers:
The number of private wells flagged for elevated levels of PFAS chemicals dramatically increased to 420 advisories issued in 2024 – 30 times higher than the number of advisories issued the previous year.
The MPCA said the increase is due to increased sampling, changes in drinking water guidance metrics, and newer lab testing equipment capable of detecting smaller traces of the chemicals. …