Andover Water Department

Providing Safe Municipal Water to Andover Residents

Your municipal water comes from a groundwater source consisting of eight wells ranging from 262 to 547 feet deep. These wells draw water from the Mt. Bob, Quaternary Buried Artesian, and Tunnel City-Wonewoc aquifers. The Andover Water Department works diligently to provide safe, reliable water that meets federal and state quality standards.

For questions about your municipal water, contact Brian Kraabel, Public Utilities Administrator, at 763-767-5180 or b.kraabel@andovermn.gov. We welcome your participation in decisions affecting water quality.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency establishes safety standards that limit contaminant levels in municipal water, ensuring it's safe for consumption. Similarly, the FDA regulates bottled water quality. It's important to understand that all water, including bottled water, typically contains small amounts of contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Andover Monitoring Results

This report covers our monitoring from January 1 to December 31, 2017. We collaborate with the Minnesota Department of Health to test for over 100 contaminants. Finding trace amounts of contaminants is normal, as no water supply is completely contaminant-free. Our standards protect residents from potentially harmful substances.

Understanding Your Water Source

Minnesota's primary water sources include groundwater (75% of supply) from aquifers beneath the surface, and surface water (25%) from lakes, rivers, and streams. Contaminants can enter these sources from natural environments and human activities.

Five major contaminant types can affect water quality:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria, parasites) from sewage treatment, septic systems, livestock operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) from natural sources, oil/gas production, mining, farming, urban runoff, and wastewater
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants from natural sources, mining, and oil/gas development

The Minnesota Department of Health provides source water assessments with information about how Andover protects water sources, nearby threats, and geological factors affecting water quality. Find these assessments at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/swp/swa/ or call 651-201-4700.

Lead in Municipal Water

Lead exposure can cause serious health issues, particularly for babies, children under six, and pregnant women. Lead rarely occurs in source water but can enter your supply through lead service lines and household plumbing. While Andover provides quality water, we cannot control plumbing materials in private buildings.

To reduce potential lead exposure:

1. Run water for 30-60 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking if it hasn't been used for over six hours. If you have a lead service line, longer flushing may be necessary.

You can check for lead service lines by contacting your municipal water system or following guidelines at: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016

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