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.

April 14, 2016 5:10 AM

Chicago's upgrades to aging water lines may disturb lead pipes

Chicago has more than 4,000 miles of water mains under city streets. Nearly 80 percent of the water lines that connect up to the water mains and bring water into homes and businesses are lead pipes -- and that's the problem.

by Cheryl Corley

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April 9, 2016 9:00 AM

U.S. water systems repeatedly exceed federal standard for lead

An Associated Press analysis of federal data shows that nearly 1,400 water systems serving millions of Americans have exceeded the federal lead standard at least once during the last three years.

by The Associated Press

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April 8, 2016 5:19 PM

Lead poisoning still a worry for kids in pockets of Minnesota

Bans on lead in paint and gasoline helped drive down lead poisonings in Minnesota. But there are still urban and rural neighborhoods where poisonings remain stubbornly high. Officials are using maps to find and fix the problems.

by Lorna Benson

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April 7, 2016 9:18 AM

Before it was dangerous, lead was the miracle metal that we loved

Lead, the "useful metal," was the pride of the Romans. For the last 5,000 years, it was used in products ranging from water pipes and makeup to wine -- until we discovered how poisonous it is.

by Frank Morris

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April 5, 2016 1:18 PM

Drought-plagued Californians are still too thirsty

Residents of California have made a good faith effort to use less water but they fell just short of the state's conservation target.

by The Associated Press

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April 4, 2016 6:07 PM

Mille Lacs businesses want state help to woo non-anglers

Representatives from Mille Lacs Lake made their case to lawmakers Monday for state aid to help advertise the region's state parks, trails and other recreation amid a major drop-off in the lake's walleye population

by Kyle Potter, Associated Press

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April 1, 2016 11:36 AM

Federal judge throws out complaint over Red River diversion

A group representing about 20 upstream cities and townships in North Dakota and Minnesota filed a lawsuit in 2013 asking for a cheaper project that doesn't flood farmland.

by The Associated Press

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April 1, 2016 5:55 AM

Avoiding a future crisis, Madison removed lead water pipes 15 years ago

The water crisis in Flint, Mich., raised an alarm about the dangers of lead in our water supply, but it is not new knowledge. Madison, Wis., knew about it and removed all its lead pipes 15 years ago.

by Cheryl Corley

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March 31, 2016 4:28 PM

Elevated levels of suspected carcinogen found in states' drinking water

A chemical widely used to make many water-resistant and nonstick items can be found in many community water supplies. But elevated levels of PFOA are turning up in three Northeastern states.