The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Rural Water Association (MRWA) have recognized the City of Vergas for its exceptional efforts to protect community drinking water sources. Vergas received a 2024 Source Water Protection Award from MDH and MRWA. 

Vergas undertook several notable projects to protect the drinking water source from contamination and ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of the water supply. The city’s actions included:

• Providing wellhead protection educational materials to residents, explaining how they can take actions to protect the city’s drinking water supply.

Making significant progress on sealing more than 20 unused private wells in the Drinking Water Supply Management Area. Sealing unused wells is an important component of source water protection, as an unused well can act like a drain, allowing surface water runoff, contaminated water or improperly discarded waste a direct pathway into drinking water sources.

Installing wiring for a generator at the water plant as a security measure to assure safe drinking water during power outages.

MDH and MRWA work with public water suppliers and other stakeholders to develop and implement protection plans that include efforts to prevent contamination of the drinking water source. Preventing contamination is the best and most cost-effective way to protect drinking water for public health.