Dakota County unveils PFAS dashboard for private well contamination risks

Dakota County, Minnesota, has launched a new online dashboard to display PFAS data for private drinking wells. The tool aims to make existing information more accessible to residents. It highlights the most concerning types of PFAS and whether they exceed health guidelines. Testing for PFAS, often called 'forever chemicals', has been underway in Dakota County since 2018. The county has over 8,000 private drinking wells, and PFAS were detected in 94 out of 114 tested. Some of these wells showed levels above state and federal guidelines.

All 27 environmental wells tested in the county also contained PFAS. One affected site was Janet Frandrup’s farm in rural Hastings, where elevated levels were found. Valeria Neppl, the groundwater protection unit supervisor, noted that the data has been public for years, but the new dashboard simplifies access.

The county advises residents with contaminated wells to use granulated activated carbon filters for treatment. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Health already runs a statewide dashboard for community water systems, with over 20 systems requiring treatment for high PFAS levels. The dashboard now provides a clearer view of PFAS contamination in private wells. Residents can check their well’s status and take action if levels are too high. The tool complements existing state efforts to monitor and address PFAS in drinking water.