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MPCA seeks $8 million for private well contamination work; plans broader mitigation program
Summary
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency asked for $8 million in the governor's bonding bill to connect contaminated private wells to municipal water (Red Oaks Phase 2) and proposed policy language to build a longer-term program to mitigate PFAS and other contamination in private wells.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency asked the Capital Investment Committee on Feb. 13 for $8 million to begin a statewide program to mitigate drinking-water contamination in private wells and to fund its top-priority project, Red Oaks Phase 2.
Assistant Commissioner Kirk Koudelka told lawmakers PFAS and 1,4-dioxin have contaminated private wells in multiple communities. He described the program’s first planned project — Red Oaks Phase 2 — as a priority that would be funded by the $8 million request. Koudelka said the earlier Red Oaks Phase 1 project used about $6.1 million to connect a neighborhood affected by dioxin and that the Phase 2 request would cover a neighborhood now impacted by PFAS.
Koudelka said the $8 million would include $6 million in general obligation bonding for the public mainline infrastructure and $2 million in cash to cover private-lateral connections, which are not bond-eligible because they are on private property. He said the agency is building a priority list that includes other neighborhoods and manufactured-home parks and estimated an overall program need of roughly $30 million to $40 million.
Koudelka warned that PFAS pose special challenges: “PFAS is a class of chemicals that is very unique … They have gotten the name forever chemicals because they do not naturally biodegrade,” he said, adding that small amounts can be toxic long-term and that treating contaminated sites can be costly.
MPCA officials also gave committee members background on other capital programs that affect water and waste infrastructure. Assistant Commissioner Dana Vanderbosch described the process that produces the project-priority list used for wastewater and stormwater grants; she said the current priority list includes about 315 projects totaling roughly $3.4 billion and that projected 20-year wastewater needs are about $6.5 billion.
Members asked for additional detail on how the $8 million request would be split between bond-eligible infrastructure and cash needs; the agency said it would work with the committee on the exact appropriation language and provide the full priority list and supporting materials.
