Newsletter for Minnesota's Noncommunity Public Water Systems 

Spring 2022 

Manganese Sampling Plan for Noncommunity Systems

Background

Manganese naturally occurs in rocks and soil and can dissolve into water. It has long been known for causing aesthetic problems with drinking water. In recent years there has been more information that chronic exposure to elevated manganese in drinking water may be harmful. Currently, there is no regulatory limit set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) or the State of Minnesota. Testing of groundwater in Minnesota has shown that there is no clear pattern of manganese levels in the state’s groundwater, but that it commonly occurs.

Manganese is an important nutrient and adults need it as part of a healthy diet. Usually, adults can get enough from the food they eat. However, infants need much less manganese in their diet and don’t have the ability to process manganese like adults.

Research has shown that consuming too much manganese over time may cause problems with memory, attention span, and motor skills in all populations. Infants under the age of one may develop learning and behavior problems if too much manganese is consumed in their diet, including through drinking water and infant formula.

What is the MDH Noncommunity Unit Doing?

Starting in 2022 the MDH Noncommunity Unit will begin reaching out to owners and operators of nontransient public water systems to ask if they are interested in having their drinking water sampled for manganese. MDH will be approaching public water systems in phases starting with locations where children under one year of age regularly consume drinking water such as daycares. Participation in sampling will be voluntary however we strongly encourage your system to participate.

Where Can I Find More Information About Manganese in Drinking Water?

Manganese in Drinking Water (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/contaminants/manganese.html#MDHEfforts)

Noncommunity Plan Review Guidance

Minnesota Rules, part 4720.0010 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/4720.0010/) requires plans to be submitted and approved by MDH prior to any modifications of a public water system.

Plan review may also be required by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). The easiest thing to do is talk to your sanitarian about what is required, or contact our plan review engineers before beginning any work:

• Groundwater systems: John Galt at 651-201-4699 or john.galt@state.mn.us
• Surface Water and Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water (GWUDI) systems: Nate Karp at 218-302-6168 or nate.karp@state.mn.us
• Plan Review Inbox: Health.NoncommunityPlanreview@state.mn.us

Modifications that require MDH approval include any work between the water source and the entry point to the distribution system such as:
• Water service lines between the well and pressure tank;
• Surface water intakes;
• Water treatment including chemical feed;
• Water towers, above-ground water storage, or other water storage installations;
• Well houses (buildings containing wells); and
• Pump houses (buildings containing water treatment, storage, or distribution equipment).

Construction of a noncommunity water supply well is exempt from plan review, but work must be performed by a licensed well contractor, who must submit notification to the MDH Section of Well Management.

Why Plan Review
The primary objective of plan review is to protect public health by verifying that the design complies with rules and standards that are enforced by MDH and/or DLI.

Plan review and approval prior to installation allows changes to be made before construction begins, which is typically less expensive than making changes after construction is completed.

Plan Review Process
Major components of plan review include verification of:

• Proper materials - Materials and components must be NSF 61 listed and/or meet the requirements of the Minnesota Plumbing Code.
• Cross-connection control and backflow prevention - There must be no physical connection between any public water supply system and any system, equipment or device that may serve as a source of contamination, unless protected by a properly maintained backflow preventer approved by the commissioner.
• Treatment design - Design is reviewed to established standards such as the 10 State Standards (Great Lakes Upper Mississippi River Board Recommended Standards for Water Works) and American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standards.
• Approved chemicals - Any chemical used should be NSF 60 listed for use with potable water.

More details can be found on our webpage Plan Review for Noncommunity Systems (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/planreview/noncommunity.html)

Reminder to Owners and Operators of Seasonal Systems

Seasonal public water systems are those that do not operate on a year-round basis and start up and shut down at the beginning and end of each season. Seasonal systems are required to start up each spring with an approved start-up procedure and notify MDH of its completion. The start-up procedure can be found at:

Start-up Procedure for Seasonal Public Water Systems (PDF) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/ncom/startup.pdf) 

If you are the owner/operator of a seasonal water system, you will receive a reminder notice each spring. After starting up your water system, be sure to complete the notice with the date the procedure was completed and the date your water system is open to the public and return it to MDH. Please note that seasonal systems that do not complete the approved start-up procedure will be in violation of the Revised Total Coliform Rule and placed on a monthly coliform bacteria sample schedule. The owner/operator of the system will then become responsible for collecting water samples as well as overnight shipping costs.

Remember if you choose to include system disinfection in your start-up procedure, you need to make sure no one is using the water until the disinfection procedures are completed and all bleach solution has been flushed out of the system.

Although providing certification of the start-up procedure is only required for the water systems that fully depressurize all their water system(s) in the off-season, water systems that depressurize a portion of their system should also follow the approved start-up procedure. This will help to ensure these systems are maintained in a sanitary condition.

Additional information relating to the Seasonal Start-up Procedure and other water system related information is available at:

Restaurants, Resorts, Campgrounds (Transient) (https:/www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/noncom/transient.html)

If you are restarting your system following a period  of non-use or low use due to COVID-19, the the reopening guide will be very helpful. See:

System Reopening and Maintaining Water Quality (PDF) (https:/www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/ncom/startupcovid.pdf)

Please contact your designated sanitarian if you have questions or call 651-201-4700 or 888-345-0823.

Noncommunity Staff Map (PDF) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/noncomstaffmap.pdf)

Factsheet at a Glance

Cross Connections and Water Softeners (PDF) (https:/www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/factsheet/croscon.pdf)

This MDH factsheet highlights cross-connection control -- preventing a connection between a drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination – in the installation of these commonly-used treatment systems. Get an A+ on your inspection and protect public health by eliminating this common cross-connection.

Pathogen Project Update

You may have participated in or remember reading about the Minnesota Groundwater Virus Monitoring Study, a study on pathogens in groundwater that was started in 2013. The study is still ongoing and is now called the “Pathogen Project” because we are sampling for multiple kinds of pathogens, not just viruses. Background on the study can be found on our webpage Pathogen Project Clean Water Fund (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/cwf/virus.html).
A scientific paper with results from additional analyses will be published in the coming months. We will share project updates and recent results on the project webpage and in future Noncom Notes.

Delegated Programs for Licensed Transient Noncommunity Public Water Systems

The Noncommunity Public Water Supply Unit has delegation agreements with twelve local health departments throughout the state of Minnesota. These agreements allow MDH to partner with local agencies to administer the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act at licensed Food, Beverage, and Lodging (FBL) establishments within their jurisdiction which are transient noncommunity public water systems. About 500 transient noncommunity systems statewide are in counties with delegation agreements. See the map for more information.
Noncommunity Transient Public Water Supply of Delegated Authorities (PDF) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/ncom/map.pdf)
The partnerships between MDH and local health departments are voluntary, and these agreements have been taking place since the beginning of the Drinking Water Protection Program in Minnesota. These partnerships benefit the licensed facilities in delegated jurisdictions by providing a “one-stop shop” for both FBL and drinking water regulations. MDH periodically reviews and provides trainings for the programs to ensure that the requirements of the SDWA are being followed. Kyle Johnsen and James Backstrom are lead staff for this work.

For more information, see:
Delegated Programs - Noncommunity Public Water Supply (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/noncom/delegations.html)

Noncommunity Staff Changes

John Galt joined the NPWS Unit in October 2021 as the plan review engineer in St. Paul, a position previously held by Alex Bartley. John’s background includes undergraduate degrees in geography and environmental engineering and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Prior to coming to MDH John was a consulting engineer working on contaminated land remediation.

Rhonda Johnson, sanitarian from the Mankato District Office, retired on February 1, 2022, after 18 years with the NPWS Unit. We thank Rhonda for all her great work and wish her well in retirement.

The Noncommunity Staff Map (PDF) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/noncomstaffmap.pdf) has been updated to reflect new staff and territories.

MRWA Training/Resources

The Minnesota Rural Water Association (MRWA) is currently working on scheduling in person and online training workshops for Class D & E small public water systems for July through December. Once these training workshops are scheduled, they will be posted on the MRWA Training Calendar MRWA Training Calendar – Minnesota Rural Water Association (https://www.mrwa.com/training/trainingcalendar/) under the title MRWA Class D & E Training (Nontransient Noncommunity & Non-Municipal). MRWA will also mail a flyer with the dates and locations to all nontransient noncommunity and nonmunicipal community water operations specialists once all of the training workshops have been scheduled.

Operator Certification

Nontransient noncommunity public water supply systems must employ a certified water operator. These systems include schools, daycare facilities, factories, and businesses. Water operators who have questions about their certification status or need to take a water operator exam should reach out to Noel Hansen at 651-201-4690 or noel.hansen@state.mn.us. 

Water Operator and Certification Training (https:/www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/wateroperator/index.htm) also provides further information.

We are Water MN

Did you know that there is an interactive exhibit that focuses on water? “We Are Water MN” builds networks of people who protect and affect water, hosts a traveling exhibit that shares messages about water in Minnesota through personal stories, histories, and scientific information, and designs public programming that builds relationships with and responsibilities to water. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities. The 2022 communities hosting the exhibit are Winona, Lake City, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Hastings, and Eagan. For more information on the current tour or interest in being a future host site see:
We are Water MN Minnesota Humanities Center (https://www.mnhum.org/we-are-water-mn/)

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