By Elias Thomas

Report for Minnesota

Some state lawmakers are looking to spend nearly $8 million over the next two years to help provide clean drinking water to people in southeastern Minnesota whose wells have high concentrations of nitrate, which generally leaches into groundwater from fertilizer and manure. 

A proposed bill would provide the Minnesota Department of Agriculture $3.8 million in both 2026 and 2027 to be put towards treating water and repairing wells that test high in nitrate contamination. 

Rep. Steven Jacob, R-Altura, said the bill would target vulnerable populations first, such as low income families or families with young children, then spread the money as far as possible.

“We’re just trying to get as many people as possible drinking water they feel safe with,” Jacob said, “in as many areas as we can.”

The geology of southeast Minnesota makes groundwater more vulnerable to nitrate contamination, according to Jay Eidsness from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. 

“In that part of the state, surface and groundwater is connected through springs bringing groundwater to the surface,” Eidsness said. “The porous limestone connects the surface to the groundwater.” 

The legislation is aimed at private drinking water wells in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona Counties that test higher than the federally allowed standard for nitrate contamination. 

Nitrate occurs naturally in some cases, but high levels in drinking water can be a result of runoff or leakage from fertilized soil, wastewater, landfills, animal feedlots, septic systems, or urban drainage, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, which says the exact source in drinking water can be difficult to pinpoint.

Consuming too much of the compound can have serious health effects, especially for babies.

The bill would continue a water treatment program started in 2024, which put $2.8 million towards water treatment and well repairs. Fifty-one percent of the wells in the area are substandard, so treatment and repair is the priority to get the most value out of the funds, Jacob said.

“Priority is going to be reverse osmosis as the first thing that treats the problem,” he said. “Then depending on how far the funds stretch, if we can do any reconstruction that’s a possibility too.”

The bill has support from Republicans and Democrats, which Jacob said gives him confidence it will pass. The House has an equal number of members from both parties this session, which means any bill needs bipartisan support to pass. 

“If I have Democrats asking to sign on to it, you couldn’t ask for anything more promising,” Jacob said.

Report for Minnesota is a project of the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication to support local news in all areas of the state.