In an email to the student body on April 23, Director of Facilities Kevin Larson acknowledged a 2019 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) study that found elevated levels of manganese in Northfield’s municipal water supply.
According to the email, manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in rocks and soil. Elevated levels may pose health concerns for some individuals, particularly infants under one year of age. For anyone over the age of one, drinking water remains safe for consumption.
Larson added that in addition to the city’s routine testing and water treatments, St. Olaf also has water softeners in most buildings that reduce hard minerals present in water.
“We will continue to monitor our water quality and communicate with the campus,” he wrote.
City Utilities Manager Justin Wagner reiterated in an email to The Olaf Messenger that the water meets safety standards for those over one year old.
Wagner confirmed that the City of Northfield is preparing to construct new water mains and extend roadways to the site of a planned water treatment facility. Budget discussions related to the treatment plant are expected later this year.
More information is available on the City of Northfield and MDH websites.
