Source Water Protection Planning

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,942,000
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,942,000
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,747,000
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,907,000
2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,587,000
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,900,000
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,900,000
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,015,000
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$900,000
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$861,297
2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$890,000
2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$895,436
2010 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$122,579
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Minnesota Department of Health
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
Ongoing
Start Date
July 2009
Activity Type
Technical Assistance
Counties Affected
Statewide
Statewide
Project Overview

Minnesota Department of Health has been collaborating with cities and other community water suppliers since 1993 to develop and implement source water protection plans.  Support from the Clean Water Legacy expands and accelerates the number of water suppliers that can be assisted each year in undertaking protection planning and implementation activities. 
Utilizing the Clean Water Fund to accelerate source water protection planning, it is the goal to have all vulnerable community water suppliers developing plans by the year 2020. Appropriations from the Clean Water Fund are also used to provide grants to public water supply systems to help them implement their source water protection plans.  

About the Issue

Source water is untreated water from streams, rivers, lakes, or underground aquifers that is used to provide public drinking water for human consumption.  In Minnesota, the public water systems that use groundwater provide drinking water to 2.9 million Minnesotans.  Some water treatment is necessary and community public water suppliers treat most drinking water before it enters the home.  However, the cost of treatment and the risk to public health can be reduced by protecting source water from contamination.  Benefits of this approach may include:

  • Reducing the need for new wells and related costs
  • Reducing the need for costly water treatment
  • Protecting our drinking water from potential contaminants of emerging concern

Source Water Protection (Wellhead Protection) planning is the mechanism used to identify the vulnerabilities of source water, inventory potential contaminants to the aquifers, and develop strategies to manage and mitigate risk.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2021, Chp. 1, Art. 2, Sec. 7
Appropriation Language

$3,942,000 the first year and $3,942,000 the second year are for protecting sources of drinking water, including planning, implementation, and surveillance activities and grants to local governments and public water systems.

2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,942,000
Measurable Outcome(s)

Protect the approximately 400,000 acres of vulnerable land surrounding drinking water wellhead areas statewide by 2034.

Conduct ongoing source water protection planning and implementation for the state’s 500 vulnerable community public water systems.

Complete first generation source water protection plans for the remaining 420 community public water systems by 2025.

Complete revised source water assessments for all 23 surface water systems by 2025.

Complete source water intake protection planning by 2027.

Complete pilot source water protection planning for 10 non-community public water systems with at-risk populations by 2027.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2021, Chp. 1, Art. 2, Sec. 7
Appropriation Language

$3,942,000 the first year and $3,942,000 the second year are for protecting sources of drinking water, including planning, implementation, and surveillance activities and grants to local governments and public water systems

2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,942,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Protect the approximately 400,000 acres of vulnerable land surrounding drinking water wellhead areas statewide by 2034.

Conduct ongoing source water protection planning and implementation for the state’s 500 vulnerable community public water systems.

Complete first generation source water protection plans for the remaining 420 community public water systems by 2025.

Complete revised source water assessments for all 23 surface water systems by 2025.

Complete source water intake protection planning by 2027.

Complete pilot source water protection planning for 10 non-community public water systems with at-risk populations by 2027.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2019, Chp. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 8
Appropriation Language

$2,747,000 the first year and $2,747,000 the second year are for protecting drinking water sources.

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,747,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Engage all vulnerable community public water supply systems in source water protection planning by 2020.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2017, Chp. 91, Art. 2, Sec. 8 (b)
Appropriation Language

$2,587,000 the first year and $2,907,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water sources. 

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,907,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Engage all vulnerable community public water supply systems in source water protection planning by 2020.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2017, Chp. 91, Art. 2, Sec. 8 (b)
Appropriation Language

$2,587,000 the first year and $2,907,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water sources. 

2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,587,000
Direct expenses
$2,346,000
Administration costs
$241,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
11
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Engage all vulnerable community public water supply systems in source water protection planning by 2020.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2015, Chp. 2, Art. 2, Sec. 8 (b)
Appropriation Language

$1,900,000 the first year and $1,900,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water sources.

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,900,000
Direct expenses
$1,645,400
Administration costs
$254,600
Number of full time equivalents funded
11
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Engage all vulnerable community public water supply systems in source water protection planning by 2020.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2015, Chp. 2, Art. 2, Sec. 8 (b)
Appropriation Language

$1,900,000 the first year and $1,900,000 thesecond year are for protection of drinking water sources.

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,900,000
Direct expenses
$1,622,220
Administration costs
$277,780
Number of full time equivalents funded
11
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Engage all vulnerable community public water supply systems in source water protection planning by 2020.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2013, Chp. 137, Art. 2, Sec 8 (b)
Appropriation Language

$1,615,000 the first year and $1,615,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water sources. Note:This appropriation is split between source water protection plan development and grants to encourage implementation.

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,015,000
Administration costs
$145,754
Number of full time equivalents funded
11
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Engage all vulnerable community public water supply systems in source water protection planning by 2020.

Measurable Outcome(s)

As of the end of FY2014, approximately 253 of approximately 430 vulnerable public water supplies have completed wellhead protection plans. Most public water supplies have completed inner wellhead management zone potential contaminant source inventories, which are being updated.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2013, Chp. 137, Art. 2, Sec 8 (b)
Appropriation Language

$1,615,000 the first year and $1,615,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water sources.

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$900,000
Measurable Outcome(s)

As of the end of FY2014, approximately 253 of approximately 430 vulnerable public water supplies have completed wellhead protection plans. Most public water supplies have completed inner wellhead management zone potential contaminant source inventories, which are being updated.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2011, Chp. 6, Art. 2, Sec.8(b)
Appropriation Language

$1,415,000 the first year and $1,415,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water resources.

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$861,297
Direct expenses
$678,702
Administration costs
$182,595
Number of full time equivalents funded
10
Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2011, Chp. 6, Art. 2, Sec.8(b)
Appropriation Language

$1,415,000 the first year and $1,415,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water resources.

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$890,000
Direct expenses
$676,237
Administration costs
$216,134
Number of full time equivalents funded
9
Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2009, Chp. 172, Art. 2, Sec 7 (a)
Appropriation Language

$1,200,000 the first year and $1,215,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water sources, including assisting 30 or more communities in fiscal year 2010 and 60 or more communities in fiscal year 2011 with the development and implementation of community source water protection plans before new community wells are installed, and awarding ten or more communities in fiscal year 2010 and 20 or more communities in fiscal year 2011 with source water protection implementation grants.

2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$895,436
Number of full time equivalents funded
6.75
Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2009, Chp. 172, Art. 2, Sec 7 (a)
Appropriation Language

$1,200,000 the first year and $1,215,000 the second year are for protection of drinking water sources, including assisting 30 or more communities in fiscal year 2010 and 60 or more communities in fiscal year 2011 with the development and implementation of community source water protection plans before new community wells are installed, and awarding ten or more communities in fiscal year 2010 and 20 or more communities in fiscal year 2011 with source water protection implementation grants.

2010 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$122,579
Number of full time equivalents funded
2
Project Manager
First Name
Steve
Last Name
Robertson
Organization Name
Minnesota Department of Health
Street Address
P.O. Box 64975
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55164-0975
Phone
(612) 201-4648
Email
Steve.Robertson@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

Phone
651-201-5000