Grand Rapids

Ensuring Safe Municipal Water For Grand Rapids Residents

Your municipal water originates from a reliable groundwater supply through five wells ranging from 140 to 572 feet deep. These wells draw water through the Quaternary Buried Unconfined, Animikie Group and Quaternary Buried Artesian aquifers. The Grand Rapids utility works diligently to provide you with safe, dependable water that meets all federal and state quality requirements.

This report aims to inform residents about their water quality and provide guidance on protecting our valuable water resources. If you have questions about Grand Rapids' municipal water, please contact Jules Kennedy, General Administrator, at (218) 326-7024 or jakennedy@grpuc.org. We welcome your participation in decisions affecting water quality.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency establishes standards limiting specific contaminant amounts in tap water, ensuring it's safe for consumption. Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

All water sources, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Grand Rapids Monitoring Results

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

Lead in Municipal Water

Exposure to lead can occur through paint, water, dust, soil, food, hobbies, or occupational settings. There is no safe level of lead exposure, with infants, children under six, and pregnant women facing the highest risks. Lead rarely originates in water sources but can enter your water through lead service lines and home plumbing systems.

Grand Rapids provides quality water but cannot control plumbing materials used in private buildings. Follow these protective measures:

1. Let water run 30-60 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking if unused for over six hours. Lead service lines may require longer flushing times.
2. Use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula, as hot water releases more lead from pipes.
3. Consider testing your water, especially if young children or pregnant women consume your tap water.

Water Conservation Tips

Conservation is essential, even in Minnesota. Some metropolitan areas use groundwater faster than it's replenished, while agricultural regions face drought risks affecting crops and municipal supplies. Here are ways to conserve:

• Fix running toilets—they waste hundreds of gallons
• Turn off taps while shaving or brushing teeth
• Take showers instead of baths to use less water
• Run only full loads of laundry with appropriate water levels
• Run dishwashers only when full
• Use water-efficient appliances (look for WaterSense labels)
• Choose water-friendly landscaping with native plants
• Water lawns early morning, slowly and deeply, less frequently

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