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.

November 18, 2019 4:30 AM

Mayo Clinic goes on low-salt diet — for roads and sidewalks

Every day, thousands of patients come to Mayo Clinic in Rochester seeking medical care, so it’s no place for dangerously icy sidewalks or parking lots. Yet despite last winter being one of the snowiest on record, Mayo reduced its salt use by 60 percent from the previous winter.

by Kirsti Marohn

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November 18, 2019 4:00 AM

Signs of trouble ahead for Lake Superior's historic lake herring fishery

The cisco is a fish in demand: Its meat graces Passover tables as gefilte fish, and its eggs are a delicacy in Scandinavia. Commercial fishing operations on Lake Superior’s North Shore depend on it. But there are signs that the cisco, also known as lake herring, may also be a fish in peril.

by Daniel Ackerman

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November 13, 2019 4:22 AM

St. Croix River, 580 other waterways added to state's list of troubled waters

The new additions to the MPCA’s biennial impaired waters list include a lower stretch of the St. Croix River, long considered one of the Upper Midwest’s most pristine waterways.

by Kirsti Marohn

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November 5, 2019 4:00 AM

Shipping Minnesota water to sate a thirsty world: Could it happen?

Last week came the surprising news that a Dakota County company wants to pump water from below the ground and transport it by rail to the western United States. Environmental groups quickly opposed the idea. The Minnesota DNR said the plan won't likely meet state law. But could a plan like this ever become reality?

by Kirsti Marohn

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November 4, 2019 10:58 AM

Investigation: Lead in some Canadian water worse than Flint

A yearlong investigation by more than 120 journalists tested lead exposure in 11 cities across Canada and found one-third exceeded the national safety guideline, with contamination in several cities consistently higher than they ever were in Flint, Michigan.

by The Associated Press

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November 1, 2019 3:36 PM

DNR: Plan to ship Minnesota groundwater to the southwest won’t float

State conservation officials say there is “virtually no scenario” where they would let a Lakeville-based company pump 500 million gallons a year from one of the state’s oldest aquifers and ship it out by rail.

by Kirsti Marohn

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October 5, 2019 5:00 AM

'Let the Water Speak': Sharing stories, building relationships in the Folwell neighborhood

The Folwell neighborhood is separated from the Mississippi River by an interstate highway and a sprawling industrial site. On the evening of Aug. 22, an event was held in “The Story Garden,” dedicated to sharing stories and raising consciousness of the river among the people who live near its banks.

by Melissa Townsend

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September 27, 2019 12:56 PM

Hennepin County begins project to assess sinkhole risk

Geologists say densely populated portions of the county’s southeast corner could be prone to sinkholes, thanks to the soft sandstone bedrock that lies just beneath the surface. As a result, Hennepin County is launching a two-year study to assess the sinkhole risk.

by Daniel Ackerman

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September 14, 2019 6:59 AM

Alaska villages run dry and residents worry 'if this is our future of no water'

The remote community of Nanwalek on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is accessible only by boat or floatplane. Now, it's running out of water due to lack of rainfall and a low snowpack.

by Renee Gross