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.

Cyberattack targets Minnesota cities' water systems
The attack prompted Minnesota IT Services to activate a statewide cybersecurity incident response involving local, state and federal agencies. Authorities did not say whether they know who is responsible for the cyberattack, and did not elaborate on a possible motive.
Officials in Minnesota cities say cyberattacks targeted water systems
The city of Braham said the temporary water system outage “was a result of a malicious cyberattack of computerized operating systems by unknown actors.” The cities of Plymouth and South St. Paul said they were also targeted.
Audit finds shortcomings in Minnesota farm program to protect water quality
The report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor released Friday found the Minnesota Department of Agriculture certified and provided financial assistance to some farmers who didn’t meet all the program’s standards.
What would removing Twin Cities locks and dams mean for the Mississippi River?
Some environmental groups think removing the locks and dams would help restore the ecological health of the river and create new recreational opportunities, but many questions remain. Several studies aim to provide answers.
Minnesota’s list of polluted waters grows, but some lakes, rivers reflect 'modest progress'
The state’s water bodies face a variety of pollution issues, including mercury from coal-fired power plants and industry, sulfate that can harm wild rice and “forever chemicals” that accumulate in fish. But some lakes, rivers and streams have logged improvements.
Mille Lacs walleye return to same ‘hot spots’ to spawn, protections could be key to their success
The central Minnesota lake’s walleye population has declined in recent decades, and researchers have tried to figure out why. The latest study suggests protecting certain places in the lake where walleyes prefer to reproduce could boost their success.
Could clay halt toxic algae blooms? Minnesota researchers aim to find out
Clay is widely used as a treatment method in other countries, but it hasn’t gotten much attention in the U.S. Researchers from the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are proposing to test its use in Minneapolis stormwater ponds with a history of algal blooms.
Environmental cleanup of St. Louis River nears completion
The St. Louis River where it flows into Lake Superior was heavily polluted for decades by a legacy of historic industrial pollution. Now Minnesota is on the cusp of completing the river’s environmental transformation.