New this year: Cybersecurity
This year all Noncommunity PWS will be asked if they have Operational Technology (OT), such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).
What does this mean? The terms, OT and SCADA, refer to hardware and software that can monitor or control of physical devices, processes, and events in the water system.
For example: this technology can monitor, gather, and process real-time data; directly interact with devices such as sensors, valves, pumps, motors, and more through human-machine interface software; and record events into a log file.
More information is available at this EPA link: Assessing if a Water System has Operational Technology
If a Noncommunity PWS has this technology, additional actions will be required in 2026.
More information is available at this MDH link: Assessing Security of Public Water Systems - MN Dept. of Health
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Apply to Host the We Are Water MN Traveling Exhibit in 2026
Deadline: June 27, 2025
We Are Water MN is a traveling exhibit and community engagement initiative. Interactive displays share messages about water through personal narratives, historical materials, and scientific information. Public programming builds community relationships with and responsibilities to water. The program is looking for organizations to join us in this work by hosting the exhibit. More information about program structure and the application process are posted on the project webpage. Applications are due June 27, 2025, for a planning and hosting period that runs from October 2025 to December 2026.
In 2026, We Are Water MN will join the Mississippi Centennial Celebration. This initiative honors the Mississippi River and its amazing recovery since 1926, when the first water quality survey of the river found a nearly dead ecosystem with only three live fish in 50 miles of river. To this end, we may give special consideration to applications from communities situated on the Mississippi River or its tributaries.
We are Water MN is led by the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension. The program is funded, in part, with money from the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Fund and by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Minnesota Rural Water Association
The Minnesota Rural Water Association (MRWA) is a nonprofit organization that provides training and technical assistance to public water and wastewater systems across Minnesota. Staff work on source water protection with municipal water and wastewater systems as well as with public water systems (community and nontransient noncommunity). MRWA staff, Kyle Kedrowski and Jennifer Koenig, work with small nonmunicipal community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems across Minnesota under a grant with the Minnesota Department of Health. Some examples of technical assistance that MRWA provides to small systems include:
- helping complete service line inventories along with the accessibility and certification requirements
- answering sampling questions
- assisting public water systems with compliance issues
- answering questions about operation and maintenance
- providing contact information for a variety of vendors that work with water and wastewater systems (i.e., well contractors, water storage contractors, chemical suppliers, etc.)
MRWA also provides free in-person and online training sessions throughout the year. Upcoming Class E training sessions are listed below. For more offerings, see our Training Calendar at MRWA Training Calendar – Minnesota Rural Water Association. At the top of that webpage, click on “Go To Small Systems Training” for a complete list of scheduled training sessions. Helpful publications are available at Publications – Minnesota Rural Water Association.
Please feel free to contact MRWA if they can be of assistance!
Jennifer Koenig
Jennifer.koenig@mrwa.com
320-815-4990 (cell) or 1-800-367-6792 (office)
Kyle Kedrowski
Kyle.kedrowski@mrwa.com
320-760-1475 (cell) or 1-800-367-6792 (office)
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MRWA Training
Class E Training (8 a.m. to noon)
July 17, 2025
Ridgeway Community School
35564 Winona County Road 12
Ridgeway, Minnesota
July 2025 (specific date to be determined)
Walker, Minnesota
Location to be determined
Oct. 9, 2025
Two Harbors Community Center
417 South Avenue
Two Harbors, Minnesota
Class D Training (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Oct. 14, 2025
Pine Island City Hall
250 South Main Street
Pine Island, Minnesota
 Operator Certification
Nontransient noncommunity public water supply systems must employ a certified water operator. These systems include schools, day care 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 Certification and Training also provides further information.
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Source Water Protection Stories
Check out this new story of successful source water protection in the Source Water Protection story library, A Collection of Stories from the Source:
Removal of Underground Storage Tank protects School’s Drinking Water - MN Dept. of Health
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Source Water Protection Grant Postponement
As you have probably heard by now, the Spring 2025 Source Water Protection Grants Program for Competitive, Plan Implementation, and Transient grants has been postponed until Fall 2025. As a result of updates to our grants database, additional time and staff capacity was needed to migrate data and complete the process of setting up the new system. It is anticipated that the funds that would have been awarded in the spring will be available in the fall in addition to the fall funding amount. We appreciate your patience and understanding and look forward to sharing this new grant system with you in the fall of 2025.
For more information, see the SWP Grants website: Source Water Protection Grants - MN Dept. of Health.
Please direct all other questions to health.drinkingwater@state.mn.us or 651-201-4700.
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Advancing Health Equity in Minnesota’s Noncommunity Drinking Water Systems
In Minnesota, ensuring safe and equitable access to drinking water remains a priority, particularly for noncommunity water systems that serve schools, businesses, and recreational facilities. Recognizing that socioeconomic and environmental factors influence water quality, we continue to explore ways to improve access to clean drinking water for everyone and lessen inequities.
One important resource available to noncommunity water systems is the Source Water Protection Grant, which provides funding to help protect drinking water sources. This grant program offers financial assistance for projects that protect drinking water sources, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. To enhance health equity, priority points are awarded to applicants who have known water quality issues (e.g. contamination from nitrates, lead, or PFAS), have received a notice of violation related to drinking water safety, and serve vulnerable populations including small or economically disadvantaged communities. Given the competitive nature of the process, applicants with higher-scoring proposals based on established criteria will have a greater chance of selection.
We encourage eligible noncommunity water systems — especially those serving vulnerable populations — to apply. Investing in water infrastructure improvements and water safety measures in underserved areas will help reduce health disparities and ensure that all Minnesotans have access to clean, safe drinking water, regardless of location and economic status.
For more information on eligibility, application details, and frequently asked questions, visit MDH Source Water Protection Grants or contact health.drinkingwater@state.mn.us or 651-201-4700.
Resources for Early Care and Education Facilities
MDH works to make sure that Minnesota’s children have access to safe drinking water at home, at school, and while in child care. Minnesota licensed child care centers and public and charter schools are required by state statute to test for lead in drinking water and to report results to MDH. When lead is detected at 5 parts per billion or higher, a facility must take that fixture offline until it is remediated. MDH is required to make the results and remediation actions reported to us available.
We are pleased to announce our interactive map tool available on our Results and Metrics page. You can search for a charter school, public school, or licensed child care center. Check back as we continue to add more information to the map as more facilities test and report. Together we strive to make sure our kids have safe drinking water and healthy environments where they can learn and grow.
MDH continues to offer the Minnesota Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care in Drinking Water program to provide a free option to test for lead in drinking water.
Public Water Systems often get questions from these facilities about lead in water. You can share information with the schools and child care providers they serve by providing educational materials to these locations or crosslinking our materials on their page.
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Welcome to New Staff
Two new compliance officers have recently joined the staff, and a recently retired sanitarian returned!
We are excited to welcome Josh Wahlen and Nicholas Streeter to fill the valuable roles of compliance.
Joyce Hedlin will be working part-time as a sanitarian assisting with work in both the Community and Noncommunity Units.
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