New standards for lake water quality

Fishing on Gull Lake
Fishing on Gull Lake.
MPR Photo/Tim Post

Federal regulators have approved new, tougher standards for water quality in the state.

Mark Tomasek with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said the surface water of lakes, and the people who use those lakes, will benefit from the new standards.

"This is to improve and manage water clarity in our lakes and the amount of algae that's in the lakes. So, it's directly related to people swimming and use of those important lake resources," Tomasek said.

Tomasek said other new standards will help limit non-industrial run-off into lakes and other bodies of water. That run-off includes everything from lawn chemicals to agricultural pollution.

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