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(AP) - Water problems in Minnesota last year included
industrial contamination in Bayport, fecal coliform bacteria in St.
Augusta, and high arsenic levels in 18 communities including Blaine
and Warroad, the state Health Department said Tuesday.

      An annual survey of drinking water reported test results for 726
municipal systems and 237 non-municipal systems that supply
subdivisions, prisons, hospitals and other places people live.

      Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach said the overall quality
of Minnesota's public water supplies is good.

      "When a problem is detected, the Health Department works with
the water system to make sure corrective actions are taken," she
said in a news release. "These actions always include notification
of the residents affected by the problem."

      Bayport is building a new water treatment plant. Officials in
St. Augusta and Holloway told residents to boil water while they
disinfected systems after finding fecal bacteria.

      Officials in St. Cloud also told residents to boil water after
finding E. coli contamination -- but that order was lifted after 20
additional tests showed no contamination. City officials said
errors in collecting or handling samples might have led to an
initial false test results.

      The report also touched on testing for perfluorochemicals once
manufactured by 3M Co. and now found in the water in several
eastern Twin Cities suburbs. Health officials are studying the
chemicals to determine what level of exposure is safe.

      -Two systems had elevated levels of nitrates, which can harm
infants.

      -Fourteen systems had high readings for one or more radioactive
elements.

      -A tougher standard for arsenic, found naturally in the
environment, took effect last year and more than 20 systems cut
their levels to meet the new rule.

      -Minnesota led the nation in high levels of copper in the water,
with 28 systems above the recommended levels. The report said the
groundwater in the state tends to absorb copper, a process that's
accelerated by treatment to remove iron.
      

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The Minnesota Department of Health says the quality of the state's drinking water is generally good. But its annual survey outlined problems like industrial contamination, fecal coliform bacteria, and high arsenic levels in various communities areound the state.

Minn. health officials outline water quality problems

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