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.

Farms used as real world research labs
A North Dakota farmer is letting researchers try a new approach to studying the environmental impacts of agriculture by turning his entire farm into a laboratory.
Farm runoff blamed for town's contaminated water
The water supply in the city of Park Rapids is contaminated with nitrates, and many suspect the source is the fertilizer used on local farm fields.
The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority has awarded $37.2 million for projects to strengthen municipal infrastructures for drinking water and wastewater treatment through Minnesota.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will hold a series of community meetings to discuss the Lower St. Croix River.
New mining opportunities in northern Minn. pose environmental concerns
Northern Minnesota may be on the verge of a major expansion of its mining industry. A key environmental study of PolyMet Corporation's plan to mine copper and nickel is expected in the coming months, but many remain opposed to this kind of mining.
Underground in Emily, a mother lode of manganese
According to mineral experts, one of the largest high-grade deposits of manganese in North America is located on a five-acre site at the edge of Emily, Minn. Manganese is a mineral used in steel and aluminum production.
Have you heard that one in five people admit to peeing in the pool? There's a lot more to this story if you look beneath the waterline...
House, Senate approve outdoors and arts program
The Minnesota Legislature has approved the $213 million outdoors and cultural heritage bill in the waning hours of the legislative session.
The Minnesota House and Senate will take action today on two of the smaller pieces of the state budget. Conference committees met over the weekend to reach agreements on a transportation bill and an environment and energy bill. Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, a member of the transportation conference committee, said the compromise bill preserves current…