State regulators flagged 420 private wells in Minnesota’s east metro for elevated PFAS levels last year, raising concerns as the chemical plume moves toward the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.
Nathan O’Neal reports for FOX 9.
In short:
- PFAS contamination stems from decades of 3M chemical dumping; more than 2,000 wells have been flagged since testing began in 2003.
- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency attributes the rise in flagged wells to broader testing, updated health guidance, and more sensitive lab equipment.
- A $330 million treatment facility in Woodbury and dozens of other projects aim to filter PFAS from municipal water systems, funded by a settlement with 3M.
Key quote:
"There is a cancer component to PFAS, unfortunately we don’t know how long you need to be exposed or how much PFAS you need to be exposed to."
— Kristine Klos, supervisor of the Minnesota Department of Health’s risk assessment unit
Why this matters:
PFAS chemicals, often called “forever chemicals” because they resist breaking down in the environment, accumulate in human blood and organs over time. Linked to cancers, immune system harm and developmental delays in children, they are increasingly found in drinking water across the United States. Once groundwater is contaminated, removing PFAS requires costly treatment plants or home filtration systems, and contamination can spread slowly through aquifers for decades. The chemicals’ approach toward the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers poses new risks for downstream communities that rely on these waterways for drinking water and recreation, illustrating how legacy pollution can resurface years after manufacturing practices change.
Read more: Decades of cover-up: 3M under fire for hiding PFAS dangers
