Water

Water shortages and problems around Minnesota — and the country — have many wondering what is the true cost of clean and reliable water. This reporting is supported in part by The Water Main, a project of American Public Media.

Drought revives ideas to shift water from Mississippi to help West
Proposals to send water from the Midwest to the southwestern U.S. — where an ongoing drought and population growth have created a looming water crisis — face significant environmental, legal and political obstacles.
On Wisconsin’s French Island, residents live with lingering ‘forever chemicals’
Wisconsin’s lawsuit comes more than four years after Minnesota settled its landmark case against 3M over PFAS contamination. Since then, scientists and regulators have learned much more about how broad and pervasive the PFAS problem is.
Rapidan community campaigns to preserve aging dam
Blue Earth County is deciding what to do with the huge Rapidan Dam. Over a century old, it suffered damage during recent flooding. If the county board votes to take it down it will be the largest-ever dam removal project in state history. However some local residents say the huge structure is vital to attract visitors, and to the town’s identity.
U of M study: Without protections, many Midwest lakes will lose coldwater habitat
The study of more than 10,000 lakes in eight Upper Midwest states concluded that protecting or restoring forests within some lakes’ watersheds could help conserve critical coldwater habitat, even amid warming temperatures.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to force nearly 20 companies that he alleges contaminated the environment with chemicals known as PFAS to reimburse the state for investigations and cleanup efforts.