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.

What happens here in the fields and farms of Iowa and the rest of the Midwest has an effect on the Mississippi River and its watershed all way down to the Gulf of Mexico.
Here are the stories, topics, and guests you'll hear today on MPR News.
Can Minnesota have clean water without regulating fertilizer?
Minnesota farmers rely heavily on nitrogen fertilizer to grow the crops that help make agriculture a $75 billion industry. But the state has struggled to find the right balance between food and fuel production and clean water. The state held the first in a series of hearings about new regulations on fertilizer use Monday.
Nitrate contamination in groundwater is a problem in some areas of the state, and agriculture officials say they're trying to prevent it from becoming worse.
Line 3 still has regulatory ground to plow before bringing in bulldozers
Before Enbridge Energy can bring in the bulldozers and backhoes to build its Line 3 pipeline across northern Minnesota, it still has to go through more months of regulatory scrutiny.
A family of chemicals -- known as PFAS and responsible for marvels like Teflon and critical to the safety of American military bases -- has now emerged as a far greater menace than previously disclosed.
Minnesota sweetens the pot to shift cropland into conservation
Using a conservation program started last year, Minnesota is looking for landowners willing to permanently set aside farmland to improve water quality. Meet the Otter Tail County couple who were first to take advantage.
Teams searching for cheap way to stop algae blooms, with $10 million prize on the line
Large algae blooms in lakes and rivers have become an annual warm weather headache in nearly every U.S. state, endangering water supplies and local economies. A new competition hopes to help.