Drinking Water Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,200,000
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,200,000
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,700,000
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,100,000
2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,100,000
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,100,000
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,100,000
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,150,000
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,150,000
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,020,000
2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,020,000
2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$744,717
2010 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,291
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Minnesota Department of Health
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
Ongoing
Start Date
July 2009
Activity Type
Analysis/Interpretation
Assessment/Evaluation
Education/Outreach/Engagement
Grants/Contracts
Research
Counties Affected
Statewide
Statewide
Project Overview

The Drinking Water Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) program identifies environmental contaminants for which current health-based standards currently do not exist or need to be updated, investigate the potential for human exposure to these chemicals, and develop guidance values for drinking water. Contaminants evaluated by CEC staff include contaminants that have been released or detected in Minnesota waters (surface water and groundwater) or that have the potential to migrate to or be detected in Minnesota waters. The CEC program also delivers useful information on contaminants of emerging concern to interested individuals and groups both inside and outside of state government, so that appropriate action may be taken, as applicable, to prevent these contaminants from endangering public health.

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

$1,200,000 the first year and $1,200,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found or anticipated to be found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standards exist and for the department's laboratory to analyze for these contaminants.

2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,200,000
Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2021, Chp. 1, Art. 2, Sec. 7
Appropriation Language

$1,200,000 the first year and $1,200,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found or anticipated to be found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standards exist and for the department's laboratory to analyze for these contaminants

2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,200,000
Legal Citation / Subdivision
2019 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 2, Article 1, Section 8
Appropriation Language

$1,700,000 the first year and $1,700,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standards exist, for improving the department's capacity to monitor the water quality of drinking water sources and to develop interventions to improve water quality, and for the department's laboratory to analyze unregulated contaminants. Of this amount, $400,000 the first year and $400,000 the second year are for the commissioner to work in cooperation with the commissioners of agriculture, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and natural resources to sample surface water and groundwater, including drinking water sources, and for an assessment to evaluate potential risks from microplastics and nanoplastics and identify appropriate follow-up actions.

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,700,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Initiative reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance. Public information sheets are created for both chemicals that have completed screening and chemicals that have published guidance and are made available on the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
2017 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 17, Article 2, Section 8(a)
Appropriation Language

$1,100,000 the first year and $1,100, the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standards exist, including accelerating the development of health risk limits and improving the capacity of the department's laboratory to analyze unregulated contaminants.

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,100,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Initiative reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance. Public information sheets are created for both chemicals that have completed screening and chemicals that have published guidance and are made available on the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
2017 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 17, Article 2, Section 8(a)
Appropriation Language

$1,100,000 the first year and $1,100, the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standards exist, including accelerating the development of health risk limits and improving the capacity of the department's laboratory to analyze unregulated contaminants.

2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,100,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Initiative reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance. Public information sheets are created for both chemicals that have completed screening and chemicals that have published guidance and are made available on the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Session Law, Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 8(a)
Appropriation Language

$1,100,000 the first year and $1,100,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based water standards exist, including accelerating the development of health risk limits and improving capacity of the department's laboratory to analyze unregulated contaminants.

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,100,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
11
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance. Screening Profiles are created for screening chemicals and Information Sheets are created for chemicals with published guidance. These resources for stakeholders are available at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/risk/guidance/dwec/chemunderrev.h….

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Session Law, Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 8(a)
Appropriation Language

$1,100,000 the first year and $1,100,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based water standards exist, including accelerating the development of health risk limits and improving capacity of the department's laboratory to analyze unregulated contaminants.

The commissioner shall contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to provide an independent review of the department's drinking water contaminants of emerging concern program. The review must include an assessment of the process used by the department to rank contaminants that are threats to drinking water supplies and include a comparison of efforts at the department with efforts by other states and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The review must be submitted to the Clean Water Council and the chairs and ranking minority members of the House of Representatives and Senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources by June 1, 2016.

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,100,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
11
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance. Screening Profiles are created for screening chemicals and Information Sheets are created for chemicals with published guidance. These resources for stakeholders are available at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/risk/guidance/dwec/chemunderrev.h….

Measurable Outcome(s)

At the close of 2016, the Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program has screened approximately 12 contaminants. Published health-based has been completed for four contaminants:
- 17alpha Ethinylestradiol
- Mestranol
- Dichlorofluoromethane (Freon 21)
- Microcystin

Guidance for an additional three contaminants is currently pending. The MDH Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program is on track to meet the goals for screening and guidance development for the 2016-2017 biennium.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Session Law, Article 2, Section 8 (a)
Appropriation Language

$1,150,000 the first year and $1,150,000 the second are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standards exist, including accelerating the development of health risk limits, including triclosan, and improving the capacity of the department's laboratory to analyze unregulated contaminants.

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,150,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
9.5
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Session Law, Article 2, Section 8 (a)
Appropriation Language

$1,150,000 the first year and $1,150,000 the second are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standards exist, including accelerating the development of health risk limits, including triclosan, and improving the capacity of the department's laboratory to analyze unregulated contaminants.

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,150,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
9.5
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 6, Article 2, Section 8 (a)
Appropriation Language

$1,020,000 the first year and $1,020,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standard exists.

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,020,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
6.8
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 6, Article 2, Section 8 (a)
Appropriation Language

$1,020,000 the first year and $1,020,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standard exists.

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,020,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
6.8
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2009, Chp. 172, Art. 2, Sec 7 (b)
Appropriation Language

$445,000 the first year and $890,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standard exists. The commissioner shall characterize and issue health-based guidance for three or more additional unregulated drinking water contaminants in fiscal year 2010, and seven or more additional unregulated drinking water contaminants in fiscal year 2011.

2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$744,717
Number of full time equivalents funded
3
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2009, Chp. 172, Art. 2, Sec 7 (b)
Appropriation Language

$445,000 the first year and $890,000 the second year are for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standard exists. The commissioner shall characterize and issue health-based guidance for three or more additional unregulated drinking water contaminants in fiscal year 2010, and seven or more additional unregulated drinking water contaminants in fiscal year 2011.

2010 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,291
Number of full time equivalents funded
3
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program reviews and evaluates available information for at least 20 contaminants (screening and ranking) and completes risk assessments for 10 contaminants, resulting in published health-based guidance.

Project Manager
First Name
Health Risk Assessment Unit
Organization Name
Minnesota Department of Health
Street Address
P.O. Box 64975
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55164-0975
Phone
651-201-4899
Email
health.risk@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

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

Phone
651-201-5000