Do you drink water? Then this event is for you!

Residents expect access to clean and abundant drinking water, but in Dakota County the groundwater aquifer supplying our drinking water is suffering from overuse, inadequate recharge, and toxin contamination such as PFAS, phosphorus and nitrates.

Join us on November 1st to learn from a panel of water experts what Minnesota is doing to protect our drinking water, and how residents can be a part of the solution.

The panelists will include:

Avonna Starck, the Minnesota State Director of Clean Water Action, who’s leadership made Minnesota the first state to pass the most comprehensive PFAS bans in the world also known as Amara’s Law. 

Joe Barten Program Management Supervisor for Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District responsible for managing SWCD programs and administration of three Dakota County Watershed Management Organizations. 

Amanda Yourd, a Hydrogeologist in the Groundwater Technical Analysis Unit at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for five years focusing on protecting drinking water supply and ensuring that there will be enough water for future generations.  

The panel moderator will be Dr. Paula Thomsen. 

We all have an important part in preserving this resource and we hope to provide means for all of us to assist here. 

Apple Valley Eco Advocates is co-sponsoring this FREE event!

Details below. There are only 250 spots! Reserve yours here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgAQKlZi1gz4-fu82ZEgjW9_hKzdL2ASfVDoCbtBpjyuNsHA/viewform?pli=1

Apple Valley Eco Advocates support the creation of a Sustainability Advisory Committee to focus on issues related to our environment and natural resources - let our elected officials know if you agree!

Here are links to our current advisory committees:

Cemetery Advisory Committee

Economic Development Authority

Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee

Planning Commission

Telecommunications Advisory Committee

Traffic Safety Advisory Committee

Urban Affairs Advisory Committee

Apple Valley has a growing PFAS problem. The consultant hired to study the issue ninths months ago provided their findings to City Council at the March 13th workshop. Two types of PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) as well as radium were measured. At least one toxin impacted each of the 20 wells that serve Apple Valley.

Because 7 of our wells exceed the EPA’s current allowed limit of 4 ppt, the City is blending the well water to dilute the PFAS concentration to meet the current EPA standards - the blend has been tested between 3.2 and 3.9 ppt depending on the specific PFAS tested.

This means if you are drinking untreated tap water, you are ingesting PFAS. A granular activated carbon system (GAC) or a reverse osmosis (RO) system can reduce exposure to PFAS.

The EPA has lowered the limit to 0 in the future. No level of PFAS is safe! 

Read more about the PFAS issue in Apple Valley and see the options the City is weighing at this link:

https://cityofapplevalley.org/DocumentCenter/View/18222/Apple-Valley-Alimagnet-Draft-NRMP?bidId=