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Message from the Chair
Showing Our Gratitude
Kabby Jones
Winter never used to be one of my favorite seasons.
The spontaneity and sun-filled days of summertime in Minnesota are hard to beat. But the older (and hopefully wiser) I get, the more I have come to appreciate nature’s rhythm in late fall and early winter as a time to wind down, put away, recount the past year, and prepare for the next season.
Looking back on 2024, we have much to celebrate and be grateful for. We have an exceptional AWWA Section, with solid leadership, growing membership, active and engaged young professionals, and strong financials. Our annual conference continues to be one of the best. In 2024, we had near-record attendance (more than 650!) expanded the technical session o erings, engaged more members in Tuesday’s charity events and YP Trivia night, and provided valuable opportunities for networking at the MAC social and member appreciation dinner. We have an outstanding, energetic and dedicated group of volunteers that help make all of this happen.
We also recognize and celebrate 2024 as the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act which established national standards for drinking water quality in the U.S. to protect public health. Amendments to the law in the decades since have expanded protections by addressing new and emerging issues and threats to safe drinking water. The SDWA continues to play a crucial role in protecting the health of our communities and the quality of our shared water resources, and for that we are grateful.
As we look forward to 2025, we have an opportunity to benefit from the vision and leadership established by the national AWWA
“With the help of those members in our Section involved at the Association level, and our membership community, I’m hoping we can begin to think about Minnesota’s path into the future of water and define the things we can do now, and the direction we can set in the next several years that will help us meet the needs for people in our State through 2050.”
Association. I am a big believer in alignment, and the great things that can be achieved when vision, goals, and actions are in sync throughout all levels of an organization. Last year AWWA laid out a new 2030 Strategic Plan organized around four strategic goals including membership experience, organizational stewardship, knowledge creation and exchange, and water policy leadership. We’ll spend some time in 2025 updating the strategic Plan for the Minnesota Section to be in alignment with the overall AWWA plan, and to refl ect the vision and goals of our members. The planning process will further strengthen our section, open up new opportunities for collaboration, and enhance the membership experience.
Another opportunity for alignment and planning for our Section in 2025 is AWWA’s Water 2050, a long-term vision of the future of water that will chart a course for a successful and sustainable water sector. With the help of those members in our Section involved at the Association level, and our membership community, I’m hoping we can begin to think about Minnesota’s path into the future of water and define the things we can do now, and the direction we can set in the next several years that will help us meet the needs for people in our State through 2050.
We have a bright future, and a strong foundation to build on. If you’re not yet involved, I hope that you’ll consider volunteering with the Minnesota Section AWWA as part of your own 2025 plan. Reach out to a member of the Board, your District, Section sta or one of the many council and committee chairs to see how you can contribute. I assure you there is a spot for you. I look forward what the next season will bring! •
KATIE WELLE President
State License #1431
Message from the Director
Full Steam Ahead
Earlier this year, I was contacted by Minnesota’s AWWA Executive Committee and was asked if I would step in to fulfill the term of our Association Director, Pat Shea, who had accepted a new career position in Florida. Pat and I have gone way back together and worked cooperatively in our e ort to make Minnesota AWWA a strong organization. Although I have big shoes to fill, I have accepted and been confirmed by the Board to fill this position.
My first assignment was ACE 2024, and in January I will attend the 2025 winter board meeting in Hilton Head, SC. And it was great to see everyone at the Section Conference in Duluth, especially such a large group of YP’s and first-time conference attendees.
The Association Board meetings I attended at ACE were meaningful and productive. The lead topics were legal interpretations
and legal challenges of PFAS regulations recently passed down from EPA, and review and approval of the Board’s Strategic Plan. 2024 ACE meant we would mention and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act signed into law by Gerald Ford December 16, 1974. We can take pride that we have a full-time sta at AWWA working hard every day to make our organization the leading authority in water standards in the world.
A big shout out and thank you to Jon Eaton for completing his term as Treasurer of the AWWA Association Board, Director and Executive Committee Member and to TJ Stroebl for his continued service as Chair of the Association’s MAC Committee, Director and Executive Committee member. Minnesota has been represented strongly by these two and their willingness to serve. •
“2024 ACE meant we would mention and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act signed into law by Gerald Ford December 16, 1974. We can take pride that we have a full-time staff at AWWA working hard every day to make our organization the leading authority in water standards in the world.”
Tony Belden
One Water Solutions Start Here
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AWWA Celebrates Progress, Identifies Opportunities in Senate Safe Drinking Water Act Hearing
Source: awwa.org
In a written statement to a U.S. Senate committee hearing, the AWWA on November 20, 2024, recognized the Safe Drinking Water Act ’s (SDWA) first 50 years as “continual progress and improvement,” while noting that Congress has several opportunities to improve the safety and reliability of drinking water.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works’ hearing brought together water sector leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to refl ect on the SDWA’s successes and challenges and to chart a path forward for ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans.
AWWA’s statement encourages the Committee to consider the following recommendations to improve the SDWA’s e ectiveness:
• Fully fund the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) at $3.25 billion and discontinue the practice of using the DWSRF to fund congressionally directed spending.
• Codify liability protections for water systems under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act to ensure polluters pay for PFAS cleanups, not water systems and their customers.
• Reauthorize Low-Income Housing Water Assistance Program to help low-income households pay their water bills and maintain access to essential water service.
• Protect source waters from contamination by encouraging the Environmental Protection Agency to take early action under statutes like the Toxic Substances Control Act to better protect public health and reduce the cost burden associated with treatment under SDWA.
• Collaborate with the water sector to strengthen resilience to cybersecurity threats.
“AWWA appreciates the Committee’s attention to SDWA on the 50th anniversary of its passage,” the statement said. “AWWA’s members remain steadfast in their commitment to uphold the promise of SDWA and look forward to working toward a better world through better water – the world’s most vital resource.”
The Safe Drinking Water Act, enacted on Dec. 16, 1974, has signifi cantly improved water quality and public health protections across the United States. As the nation celebrates its progress, AWWA calls for continued collaboration and innovation to further promote safe and a ordable drinking water in the United States. •
“Reauthorize Low-Income Housing Water Assistance Program to help low-income households pay their water bills and maintain access to essential water service.”
Minnesota Completes Lead Pipe Inventory with One of The Highest Response Rates in Nation
Work is underway to replace almost 90,000 pipes and eliminate exposure to lead from drinking water by 2033
Source: www.health.state.mn.us
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today announced that 100% of the state’s community water systems have completed an inventory of their service lines as part of a national e ort to identify where lead pipes need to be replaced.
MDH has been working with community water systems across the state to eliminate exposure to lead from drinking water. MDH estimates that of the 1.5 million service lines in Minnesota, just under 90,000 are made of lead. That total may increase as approximately 280,000 service lines will require additional verifi cation.
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature initiated a lead service line replacement project and set a goal of replacing all of the state’s lead service lines by 2033. This meant work had already started in Minnesota ahead of the federal push announced on October 8 to have all lead service lines in the country replaced within 10 years.
Several water systems – including Duluth, St. Paul and Minneapolis – have already started replacing their lead service lines.
“There is no safe level of lead exposure, so getting lead out of drinking water is a public health imperative,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. “The e orts to identify and remove lead service lines represent a signifi cant step forward in our commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all in Minnesota.”
Service lines connect the water main to the interior plumbing in a building. When service lines are made of lead, they can be a source of lead in drinking water. Lead is a poisonous metal that can cause serious health problems, especially in children and pregnant people.
The completed inventories cover approximately 4.5 million Minnesotans. Minnesota residents who get their drinking water from a community water system can find out if they have a lead service line at ‘Do you have a lead service line?,’ an online mapping application developed by the University of Minnesota and MDH.
Residents will be notifi ed by their water system if they have a service line made of lead or that may contain lead and about the next steps the system will take to replace those lines or identify the material. These notifi cations are not an indication that there is an immediate problem with their drinking water. Water systems routinely test drinking water for lead and notify residents separately if there’s an issue. For residents with service lines of unknown material, future assistance will be available to water systems to complete the service line identifi cation.
“Nationally, Minnesota has one of the highest rates of completion for the service line inventories,” said Sandeep Burman, manager of MDH’s Drinking Water Protection Section. “The work to replace lead service lines has begun, and we’re well on our way to eliminating this source of lead exposure.”
Millions of dollars in state and federal funding are available for water systems to replace lead service lines in Minnesota, including $240 million appropriated by the 2023 Minnesota Legislature. In May 2024, MDH received funding applications for 129 lead service line replacement projects across 78 di erent municipalities. Funding for replacement is funneled through the public water system, not individual property owners. By state law, water systems need to prioritize their replacements based on e cient use of funds and certain health equity criteria including low-income neighborhoods and children’s health. •
To read more from the MDH about this response, see page 36.
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Our mission is to make sure you have it—for personal use like drinking and swimming as well as environmental benefits for animals. We have in-house experts dedicated to water and wastewater treatment, bringing a highly specialized team to local communities and industries to clean, conserve, and protect local water supply.
The cost of quality water and wastewater systems can be overwhelming; our team works hard to find the best-value option and funding support. We plan and design systems and processes to exceed regulatory requirements, meet capacity demands, and easily maintain, collect, and treat water and wastewater in a practical, costeffective approach.
STAT E MENT FROM AW WA CEO DAVID LAFRANCE ON FINAL LEAD AND COPPER RULE IMPROVEMENTS
Source: AWWA Press Release, October 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its fi nal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) rule. AWWA CEO David LaFrance issued the following statement:
“The protection of public health is the top priority for the American Water Works Association – it guides our daily work and the work of thousands of water professionals across North America. We support strong protections for water consumers today as we strive for a future where lead is no longer in contact with the water we drink.
“The release of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) is another important step in our nation’s e orts to reduce exposure to lead from all sources. AWWA is committed to the complete replacement of lead service lines nationwide – in their entirety – as quickly as feasible. We see this as an achievable goal and an opportunity for water utilities to strengthen public trust with the households they serve.
“Water systems nationwide are nearing completion of their initial lead service line inventories and are sharing them with their
communities. Updating these inventories over time, as required by the LCRI, is critical to assuring continued progress on lead line removal and building a shared understanding of where lead risks remain.
“As we review the technical details of the lengthy rule, we anticipate there will be challenges to overcome. For example, in many communities, lead service lines are partly on private property and owned by the property owner rather than the utility. The new rule requires water utilities to replace service lines under their ‘control.’ We share EPA’s desire to remove lead service lines in their entirety. However, this portion of the rule needs further explanation to assure water utilities are operating within their legal authority.
“We also recognize that the LCRI poses cost challenges, particularly for households with lower incomes. The Biden Administration’s announcement of $2.6 billion in additional funding for lead line replacement, the $15 billion made available through the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), and loan
programs like the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) are all helpful in closing the funding gap. However, AWWA estimates the cost of replacing lead service lines nationwide could top $90 billion. Ultimately, most of these costs will fall to consumers through higher water bills. The LCRI comes on the heels of a recently finalized a PFAS rule that will also cost billions of dollars annually. Additional assistance for consumers, particularly those with lower incomes, will be necessary to maintain water a ordability.
“AWWA is committed to helping its members assess and understand the LCRI requirements. We are proud to share success stories from our members about overcoming barriers to lead service line replacement, improving corrosion control practices, collaborating with community partners, and communicating about lead with clarity and transparency.
“We will evaluate the rule in greater detail over the next several days and continue to provide insights to members and others.” •
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Annual Conference Highlights 2024
The golf tournament and fi shing tournament were both sold out. Thank you again to the participants and organizers for their participation in our association. We also had more than 25 sporting clays participants.
Over 100 people attended the ever-popular Bean Bag Tournament at Canal Park Brewery, and this year, participants also got the chance to pick up their badge early, which helped them speed through registration on Wednesday morning – and also
earned them points toward the new Conference Challenge game on the event app.
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
The conference overall was another great success, with more than 650 attendees who came to attend technical training sessions, and to network with peers to share information and exchange knowledge.
New features this year included expanded space in the Exhibit Hall, with room for large equipment vendors, and a brand-new event app platform that featured the opportunity for ongoing challenges to earn points through participation at the Conference.
The MN AWWA Conference continues to be an event that allows for both learning and fun. From the Opening General Session, with an energetic presentation by Dr. Jermaine Davis, to toasting smores during Thursday night’s dinner, to concluding the conference with an invigorating dialogue with EPA about new
inspection initiatives.
2024 Award Winners
• 2024 Leonard N. Thompson Award – Shawn Mulhern
• 2024 Leonard N. Thompson Award – Shawn Mulhern
• 2024 George Warren Fuller Award– Steve Schneider
• Operator Meritorious Service Award – Brett Dickie
• Benjamin G. Mason Award of Excellence – Brent Massmann
• Next Generation Award – Mike Novitzki
• Jon Eaton Excellence in Volunteering Award – Kyle Hinrichs
• Best in Glass Award – City of Bloomington
• Meter Challenge Winner – Clint Wilson
• Pipe Tapping Winner – SPRWS (women), City of Minneapolis East Yard Tappers (men)
with room for large equipment vendors, and a brand-new event app points through participation at the Conference. (men)
• Hydrant Hysteria Winner – Elk River Municipal Utilities (women),
• Hydrant Hysteria Winner – Elk River Municipal Utilities (women), City of Crystal (men)
•
Sean Mulhern, winner of Leonard N. Thompson Award
Mike Novitzki was recognized with the 2024 Next Generation Award
Visiting AWWA O cer Rebecca Venot congratulates Steve Schneider, this year’s George Warren Fuller Award Winner.
Kyle Hinrichs, recipient of the Jon Eaton Excellence in Volunteering Award (with his wife Rachel)
SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT
A MILESTONE FOR CONTIN UE :
Source: Journal AWWA, December 2024
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was signed into law in the United States on Dec. 16, 1974. Now, 50 years later, the SDWA has become so foundational to the way water professionals think about protecting public health that it would be di cult to imagine life without it—not just as a matter of legislation or policy but as a tool that says something profound: every American deserves access to safe drinking water, no matter where they live, how much money they earn, their background, or beliefs.
BY PETER GREVATT
SDWA’s Early Years
As the water sector celebrates the SDWA’s 50th anniversary, we honor those who held fast to the vision for its inception and the many thousands of individuals across the country who labored tirelessly to bring the SDWA to life. When President Ford signed the SDWA, he said the following: “Nothing is more essential to the life of every single American than clean air, pure food, and safe drinking water.” But he went on to say that he opposed “extensive federal
involvement in what had traditionally been state and local regulatory matters,” and he was concerned about what he characterized as “unnecessary costs to the federal government” (source: www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov).
This critical undertaking was never going to be easy.
Nearly two full years passed between the SDWA’s introduction in Congress and President Ford signing the final bill into law on
on the ground before the SDWA became law. When the US Public Health Service (PHS) conducted a study of 969 public water systems across the United States
systems that would be incomprehensible today. For example, 36% of tap water samples exceeded one or more of the PHS standards for bacteriological or chemical contaminants. This included half of the small systems that served fewer than 500 people, nearly a third of medium-sized systems, and more than a quarter of larger systems in
in 1970, it found conditions at many water the survey.
From that same study, 77% of operators were defi cient in training for microbiological work, and 46% of those who needed chemistry training had none. State programs were commonly found to be defi cient in inspections and sampling for bacteriological analysis. Only 10% of systems had bacteriological surveillance systems that met the PHS criteria, and 64% of the systems reported that a sanitary survey hadn’t been performed within the past three years. Sta at more than half of the systems didn’t even know when the last sanitary survey had been performed or whether one had ever been done by state or local health departments.
Many people from many walks of life have been part of the e ort over 50 years to change that. Some have worked in treatment plants, laboratories, administrative o ces, government o ces, and courtrooms. Many more have worked in deep ditches in the middle of the night to ensure their neighbors would have safe drinking water when the sun came up. The contributions of these dedicated individuals have largely gone unnoticed.
Evolving Challenges
The SDWA has taken di erent directions over the past half-century. Originally, it established the basic framework for comprehensive standards to protect public health by ensuring drinking water sources are free from harmful contaminants. By 1986, Congress and the public had become frustrated with the slowness of new standards development, and SDWA’s 1986 amendments launched a breakneck pace for setting new maximum contaminant levels, requiring standards for nine listed contaminants in the next 12 months, for at least 40 within 24 months, and the remainder within 36 months. And there were more provisions in the
1986 amendments to help small systems, introduce rules for treatment techniques, and address challenges such as lead in drinking water and filtration requirements.
A few years later, Congress became concerned with the regulatory treadmill and developed the 1996 amendments, which required a more rigorous consideration of science in the development of drinking water regulations, including the cost–benefit provisions that were to underpin regulatory actions. The US Environmental Protection (EPA) agency took action under the 1996 amendments to develop and implement important health-based standards to address disinfection byproducts and Cryptosporidium, but the agency didn’t
Originally, [the SDWA] established the basic framework for comprehensive standards to protect public health by ensuring drinking water sources are free from harmful contaminants. “
President Bill Clinton signs the 1996 amendments to the SDWA.
regulate a single new chemical contaminant other than disinfection byproducts under these new provisions for the next 28 years.
The 1996 amendments created signifi cant public health benefits by doing more to assist small systems, providing a critical infrastructure funding tool to help systems of all sizes: the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Through the end of 2023, DWSRFs provided $57 billion in support of nearly 20,000 loans across the country. States also invested nearly $5 billion of federal funds in set-aside activities, and these projects don’t include the recent work funded by EPA through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
Protecting Public Health
Before 1900 – nearly four years before the Wright Brothers first took flight – more than 3,000 drinking water systems already existed in the United States. But in those early days, the ability to collect and deliver water had far outpaced local understanding of the potential health implications of supplying water this way as well as the steps needed to remedy problems that were discovered. And we know that mistakes in operating drinking water systems can have terrible consequences for communities.
Since the SDWA’s passage, serious drinking water system breakdowns have occurred: Milwaukee in 1993, Washington, D.C. in 2001, Alamosa, Colorado in 2008, Flint, Michigan in 2014, Jackson, Mississippi in 2022, and others that are less well known or may even have gone undetected. Many individuals in the water sector played a central role in helping these systems recover and putting policies, procedures, and regulations in place to ensure tragedies like these would not happen again. Water professionals at all levels continue this important work today.
Increasingly, tragic incidents that involve drinking water, although rare, have had a signifi cant e ect on the public’s confi dence in the extraordinarily successful – and
safe – US drinking water supply. This has led to extensive discussion in the context of EPA’s Consumer Confi dence Rule over whether it is a ‘false and misleading statement’ to say that drinking water that meets all drinking water standards can be called ‘safe’ because there might be something present in the water that we don’t know about or because some potentially harmful constituents are present at concentrations above zero. In its final rule, EPA stated that “there may be situations where a description of water as ‘safe’ would not be a misleading statement.”
It is a great challenge for us to hold these facts together and not sacrifi ce the confi dence in the successful work water professionals have done to safeguard the nation’s drinking water supply. In 1975, James McDermott, who was then director of EPA’s Water Supply Division, observed that generally we find most problems in small towns and smaller systems across the nation (https://bit.ly/McDermottInterview). He noted that between 1961 and 1970, at least 43,000 people became sick from drinking water as a result of 130 reported outbreaks. He also observed that it’s possible that a signifi cantly larger number of people were subjected to acute bacterial or viral infection or chemical poisoning that wasn’t reported.
Yet McDermott believed that drinking water systems in the United States were among the best in the world, serving more good water to more people than in any other nation. He observed that improved analytical techniques have enabled water professionals to detect trace amounts of organic compounds in drinking water and that these compounds are found in such small amounts that they must be measured in parts per billion in drinking water. And, he noted, because of improved analytical techniques, an EPA sampling study brought this problem to the public’s attention for the first time.
Dedicated water professionals around the world protect vulnerable communities, and we have to bring our best selves to this task.
what McDermott experienced in the 1970s.
Take these concerns, for example:
• Climate change stressing water systems globally
• Challenges from aging infrastructure outpacing investments in renewal and replacement
• Constant cyberattacks on control and information systems
• Dramatic increases in income disparity, leading to greater una ordability for struggling customers
• Emerging contaminants that can have human health and environmental e ects at infinitesimally small concentrations
Water professionals must continue to balance the public’s desire to limit contaminant levels in drinking water while reducing energy intensity, minimizing carbon emissions, and ensuring an understanding of whether their investments will actually reduce public health risks.
Dedicated water professionals around the world protect vulnerable communities, and we have to bring our best selves to this task – our most creative ideas, our greatest commitment to serve the public good, and the recognition that we are truly in this together. We can’t a ord to leave anyone behind as we enter the SDWA’s next 50 years.
In 1974, President Ford said, “Recent news stories have highlighted several potential drinking water problems that can only be resolved through research.” We’re at a similar point today. A focus on science and research isn’t a substitute for action, but it’s often a prerequisite to action that will deliver the results we want. Now, in the SDWA’s 50th year, let’s celebrate these great accomplishments together, acknowledge those who had a hand in the SDWA’s development and evolution, and then roll up our sleeves and get back to work on behalf of the communities we serve.
Current Concerns
Today, we face di erent challenges from
Peter Grevatt is CEO of The Water Research Foundation in Denver, Colorado. pgrevatt@waterrf.org. •
Steve Seibert, ead BIM/Revit Specialist
AWWA WATER CHAMPION
ANDREW OHRT, DULUTH, MINNESOTA
Andrew Ohrt, based in Duluth, Minnesota, leads West Yost Associates’ resilience practice providing cybersecurity and cyber-resilience services. This article was originally posted on awwa.org in October. October was Cybersecurity Awareness Month, to promote the importance of protecting critical water infrastructure from cyber threats.
Education/certification:
B.A., Physics, Gustavus Adolphus College; M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota; Certifi ed Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP); Professional Engineer (Alaska, Minnesota, Washington); Certifi ed Idaho National Laboratory National (INL) and Homeland Security Instructor; Eagle Scout.
How and why did you get into the water sector?
In 2013, I was looking to make a career change but didn’t quite know what to do. One morning I was driving to work underneath the new Interstate-35W bridge in Minneapolis. It is a very impressive structure, and it struck me that I wanted to work in critical infrastructure resilience.
How do you see cybersecurity advancing within the water sector?
I think there are going to be two main advancements. First, regulations will be put
in place that require minimum cybersecurity practices for most U.S. water and wastewater utilities. Second, designing water and wastewater systems with cyber risk explicitly considered will become part of the standard of care to which all licensed engineers are held. Both advancements are necessary for the sector to address the cybersecurity challenges ahead of us.
What is one of your proudest accomplishments?
I’ll give you two! Recently, working with Idaho National Laboratory in support of its national security mission has been a real privilege. At the same time, I have a water utility client that I’ve worked with continuously for more than 11 years. Being on the journey with them for that long has been extremely meaningful.
What advice do you have for water professionals regarding cybersecurity threats?
From a management perspective, nothing gets done without funding. Even if you don’t
have a clear plan yet, set aside funding and then build the plan. Waiting for a normal planning cycle to make real improvements will take too long.
From a cybersecurity perspective –get the basics right. There are relatively few common cybersecurity recommendations across all of the agencies and professional organizations. Start with www.awwa.org/cybersecurity and go from there.
From an engineering perspective – start to engineer your systems with the concepts of Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE). More and more engineers are starting to believe this is the path to improved cyber resilience for all critical infrastructure. This is about changing how we engineer our systems, explicitly considering cyberattacks aimed at damaging or manipulating our water and wastewater systems.
How have you benefited from your AWWA membership? AWWA has created many opportunities for me. I am a member of several committees with my longest tenure being on the Emergency Preparedness and Security Committee.
FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, NOTHING GETS DONE WITHOUT FUNDING. EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE A CLEAR PLAN YET, SET ASIDE FUNDING AND THEN BUILD THE PLAN. WAITING FOR A NORMAL PLANNING CYCLE TO MAKE REAL IMPROVEMENTS WILL TAKE TOO LONG.
I also enjoy being the Journal AWWA Emergency, Preparedness and Security column coordinator.
While most of my AWWA participation has been at the national level, I have been participating more with the Minnesota Section. I’ve enjoyed being in the Section community and always look forward to seeing my friends from around the state.
What is one action all water systems should take to protect against cybersecurity attacks?
Take a hard look at how your system is engineered and how prepared your sta are to withstand a cyber-attack. Start with the assumption that the attacker is inside your system. I don’t suggest this to focus on the ‘fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD).’ Too many cybersecurity conversations wind up there. I suggest this approach because it helps utility sta focus on how the systems are engineered and the capabilities of operations sta to respond to a cyber-incident. Often, utilities recognize many great things they are already doing. Finding those good things provides the utility with something to build on.
Describe your family and personal interests:
I have been married to my wife, Mara, for 17 years. We have three sons, Axel (13), Daggan (13) and Anders (9). Much of my time is spent with them exploring the area where we live around Duluth. In the spring, we tap maple trees for syrup. In the summer, we garden, mountain bike on local trails, and hike on the Superior Hiking Trail. In the fall we harvest fruit from our apple, plum, and cherry trees and stockpile firewood for the winter.
What would surprise people to know about you?
We live a few miles from Lake Superior, which holds 10% of the world’s fresh surface water. We go swimming in the lake year-round. It has become a tradition for us to go for a dip on New Year’s Day when the water temperature is in the mid-30s.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am a co-author on a forthcoming book on cyber-resilience for the water sector slated for publication in the second half of 2025. The book will be published through AWWA. Please pick up a copy and embrace the principles. •
DeZURIK.com
What You Should Know About Minnesota’s Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Restrictions
By: Taylor Becker & Greg Klinger, Extension educators
Alittle over a year ago, the Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner updated the state’s Groundwater Protection Rule (GPR) with the goal of minimizing potential sources of nitrate pollution to Minnesota groundwater.
One impact of this rule for farmers and agronomists is a restriction on the application of nitrogen fertilizer in the fall and on frozen soils in certain areas of the state starting September 1, 2020. These areas are shown on the map above in green and purple (more on these two colors below). These areas are mostly in the north-central, southeast, and southwest parts of the state, but also include smaller areas in other locations. Roughly the northern third of the state is excluded from restrictions on fall nitrogen fertilizer applications. Additional exceptions are discussed below.
If you farm or advise farmers with cropland in these areas, find more detail at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Vulnerable Groundwater Area Map. You can zoom in to your local area; below we’ve used Cold Spring, Minnesota, as an example. There are fi elds covered by both purple and green shading. In both areas, applying nitrogen fertilizers in the fall and to frozen soils will be restricted. The purple-shaded areas have characteristics that allow nitrate to easily enter groundwater, typically because the soils are sandy or gravelly, or
have shallow or fractured bedrock known as karst geology. The greenshaded area is a Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA), a land base that contributes water to a public drinking water well (in this case, Cold Spring’s well). The DWSMAs labeled in the green on the interactive map have had nitrate levels at or above 5.4 mg/L within the past 10 years, which is the reason for the fall nitrogen fertilizer restriction. The green DWSMA areas will be updated annually as nitrate levels in public water supply wells increase or decrease.
Are all nitrogen-containing fertilizers banned from being applied in the fall in these areas?
No. There are specifi c exceptions that allow fall application of U of M recommended rates to establish winter grains or perennial crops, and when applying MAP, DAP or micronutrient formulations, up to a fi eld-average rate of 40 lbs/acre nitrogen in the fall (roughly 200-400 lbs/acre of total product). The 40-pound rate does not apply to fi elds with ‘low’ or ‘very low’ soil test phosphorus values.
Is manure use in the fall restricted?
No, the fall nitrogen fertilizer-use restrictions in place under this rule apply only to commercial nitrogen fertilizers.
Under the Groundwater Protection Rule, are there other potential impacts farmers and agricultural professionals should be aware of?
Yes, but only if you farm within one of the green DWSMA areas on the map. The Groundwater Protection Rule includes additional considerations for nitrogen management practices in DWSMAs with the goal of preventing public water supply well nitrate levels from exceeding 10 mg/L. These include the promotion of nitrogen fertilizer best management practices (BMPs) – additional information can be found under Part 2 of the rule on the MDA website.
Regulations that mandate nitrogen fertilizer best management practices (BMPs) or other practices are possible in these areas. However, these are long-term considerations directly tied to local water quality trends and how widely BMPs are being used.
More information:
• For more information on nitrogen fertilizer BMPs, visit the U of M Extension website. U of M Extension has also prepared more specifi c information on nitrogen management when manure is used as fertilizer.
• For more in-depth reading on the details of the rule, view the full text of the Groundwater Protection Rule or the frequently asked questions page on the MDA website.
Article originally published January 2024 on the University of Minnesota Extension website. •
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Source: epa.gov
IANNOUNCES $61 MILLION FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN MINNESOTA
n the end of November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe. Combined with $2.6 billion announced earlier this month, this $6.2 billion in investments for Fiscal Year 2025 will help communities across the country upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.
These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes allotments for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for Minnesota ($45,736,000), Emerging Contaminant funds ($3,948,000) and $11,557,000 under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.
This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that a majority of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid.
“Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and
address local challenges – from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
“Every family deserves clean and safe water when they turn on the tap,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “This federal investment that is critical to upgrading our state’s water infrastructure, conserving local resources, and improving wastewater management to protect Minnesotans’ health for years to come.”
“Minnesotans know the value of clean water – in fact, we were the first state to put statewide water quality standards in place over 50 years ago,” said Sen. Tina Smith. “This isn’t just an investment to protect drinking water in Minnesota, it’s an investment in the health and safety of Minnesota families. I am grateful to the Biden-Harris administration for delivering this funding.”
“In my district and across Minnesota, families shouldn’t have to worry about what’s coming out of their taps or whether their local waterways are safe,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar. “This is exactly the kind of bold, progressive investment we need to ensure environmental justice in all our communities. This historic $61 million investment in Minnesota’s water infrastructure will help protect our communities, especially those that have been historically underserved and overburdened by aging water systems.”
EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These e orts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain
Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of EPA SRF funding available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portal allows users to access data from both the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.
The State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important programs for investing in the nation’s water infrastructure. They are designed to generate signifi cant and sustainable water quality and public health benefits across the country. Their impact is amplifi ed by the growth inherent in a revolving loan structure, in which payments of principal and interest on loans become available to address future needs. •
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DULUTH GETS EARLY FUNDING FOR LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENTS
By Stew Thornley, Minnesota Department of Health
Amulti-year, multi-billion-dollar push to remove lead service lines is underway in states across America and cities throughout Minnesota, and the first funds are flowing into Duluth for such work. Cities and counties have been coordinating the digging to replace the service lines with necessary street repairs to minimize the disruption.
Chad Kolstad, head of the Infrastructure Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), noted that these e orts are “prioritizing public health” and explained that grants and loans are available to water systems for lead service line replacements through the Drinking Water Revolving Fund, which receives both state and federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds.
The state money came when Governor Tim Walz signed legislation last year to provide $240 million for a grant program for replacing lead service lines. MDH estimates there are about 100,000 water service lines in the state that have the potential to leach lead into the water flowing through them. In children, lead can also slow development or cause learning, behavior, and hearing problems.
In September 2024, a number of MDH employees – in town for the annual conference of the Minnesota Section of AWWA – visited the Gary/New Duluth neighborhood to see a couple of service lines being replaced.
This area, along the St. Louis River and in the flattest and lowest part of Duluth, had once been small municipalities before being annexed by Duluth. It is somewhat distant from the main area, and Jon Maruska, a senior engineering specialist for the city, explained why he invited MDH sta to this location. “We met here today because we wanted you to drive all the across [town] and let you imagine all the lead services that you passed on the way out here.”
Maruska said Duluth has approximately 31,000 water services. In the inventory the city performed, it determined that 6,800 were lead services with another 5,500 of unknown composition. “We expect roughly half of those [unknown services], if not more than half of them to be lead, when we do the full investigation,” he said.
“So, we expect a total of 10,000 plus. This summer we’re on track to replace 670.”
At this time, the city was reaching its 500th replacement, which “leaves about 170, so we still have a busy fall ahead.”
Maruska said they had three neighborhood replacement projects going on this year. “We’re targeting about 200 [replacements] per project, thinking that’s the amount one local contractor can complete in one season.”
On this day, two lead service lines were being replaced on 103rd Avenue West to the north of W. Heard Street. The general contractor, Veit & Company, Inc. of Rogers, Minnesota, was using directional drilling for the replacements. “I think contractors pretty quickly realized that directional drilling is the way to do these,” Maruska explained, “saving as much of the street as possible, saving all the restoration on the private property. In our early plans, we actually spelled out to use trenchless methods.
“We’re moving away from that and just saying, put the pipe in the ground and use what method works, and they’re going to use directional drilling when it works.” It doesn’t always work. While the Gary/New Duluth area is heavy in clay, parts of Duluth have a lot of rock, which leads to open cuts rather than directional drilling.
In addition to water utility work being done in neighborhoodwide projects, Duluth has a program for high-priority replacements, factors being a leaking service line or other utility work, such as sewers, being done. “It just makes sense to have them do the lead service line at the same time,” said Maruska.
How many years the entire project will encompass will depend on the exact total of lead service lines and continued funding availability. Duluth plans to scale up replacements in 2025 with a goal of replacing all lead services in a decade. •
Observed by interested parties from the Minnesota Department of Health, Duluth workers replaced two lead service lines on 103rd Avenue North o Heard Avenue North on September 16.
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Breeze is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of The Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (MN AWWA) and its publication, and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website.
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To reach water professionals through Breeze magazine and its targeted readership, contact Je at your earliest convenience to discuss your company’s promotional plans.
