Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now

Water

Water shortages and problems around Minnesota — and the country — have many wondering what is the true cost of clean and reliable water. This reporting is supported in part by The Water Main, a project of American Public Media.

Shifting rain could be lowering groundwater

Shifting rain could be lowering groundwater

New satellite data shows a decline in Minnesota's groundwater supplies and one scientist suggests a reason in addition to irrigation pumping might be that rain is falling at different times.
by Dave Peters

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Getting water to crops when they're thirstiest pays off

Getting water to crops when they're thirstiest pays off

A new project measures precise shifts in weather and soil moisture to help central Minnesota irrigators try to limit groundwater contamination.
by Jennifer Vogel

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
For Walker-Burke, quiet differences on environment

For Walker-Burke, quiet differences on environment

In a race that has largely revolved around who can create jobs, both candidates are sticking to general comments about balancing the need to protect natural resources with economic development.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Satellite: A better way to measure groundwater levels?

Satellite: A better way to measure groundwater levels?

Researchers are using satellite data to measure groundwater use and how much is left. A key scientist will talk about the effort tonight in St. Paul.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Minnesota residents fight invasive milfoil plant

The discovery of Eurasian milfoil in a Stearns County lake has renewed interest in the water quality of Middle Spunk Lake.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Judge won’t place blame for White Bear Lake water woes

Judge won’t place blame for White Bear Lake water woes

Ramsey District Judge Margaret Marrinan refused to decide by summary judgment whether the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is at fault for the low water levels in White Bear Lake.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Water woes in California hit historic lows

Water woes in California hit historic lows

As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the state's lakes and reservoirs are reaching historic lows. A series of recent images from the air help put the water shortage in perspective.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Twin Cities environmentalists join fight over Cargill's Arkansas hog operations

Twin Cities environmentalists join fight over Cargill's Arkansas hog operations

Some of the anger over the facility comes from the fact that it's located on a tributary just six miles from the Buffalo River, an area they gets special protection from the National Park Service.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

U of M flushes toilets with rainwater

New student housing at the University of Minnesota includes a system for collecting stormwater from the roof and using it to flush the toilets for 600 students.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Minnesota starts to think about re-using wastewater

Minnesota starts to think about re-using wastewater

Treated sewage water is getting used again in a few places, watering golf courses, washing trucks and sweeping streets. The economics in a water-rich state make for slow change, but those who have tried it think it could be a way of the future.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!