Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Dan Schoen (DFL)

Back to profile

RELEASE: Southern Washington Co. PFC exposure high in some wells

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

St. Paul, Minn. – Today officials from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) – two types of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) – exceed acceptable levels established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 80 homes with wells in southern Washington County. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will be providing affected residents with bottled water until filters can be installed in homes.

“This is not a new issue to the area; many of us have been concerned and advocating for more protection of our neighbors and it appears that is finally what is going to happen,” said state Rep. Dan Schoen (DFL – St. Paul Park). “The source of this contamination isn't a mystery and having all of the homes in the area with filtration shouldn't be a fantasy but a reality.”

In May, the EPA lowered the standard of lifetime exposure to these PFCs in drinking water to 70 parts per trillion. MDH’s existing limit is 300 parts per trillion, and they have been reviewing EPA studies to determine whether this number should be lowered as well.   

Groundwater contaminated with PFCs was first discovered in the area in 2002. This is closely connected with 3M’s disposal of products containing PFCs between the late 1940s and 1970s.

Affected area residents are being informed by letter this week if their water is above the advisory level. Water with high PFC levels is acceptable for bathing, cleaning, and laundry, but should not be used for drinking or cooking. MDH noted that community public water is below EPA limits. The agency will continue to sample residential wells – between 400 and 500 of them – and will issue additional drinking water advisories if necessary. A map of areas to be sampled by MDH can be found online here.

For more information, residents are encouraged to visit the section of MDH’s webpage about PFCs or call MDH at 651-201-4897.

Rep. Dan Schoen represents District 54A in the Minnesota House of Representatives, which includes the communities of Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, South St. Paul, Newport, and Grey Cloud Island Township. He can be reached by phone at 651-296-4342 or email at rep.dan.schoen@house.mn.