(LINO LAKES) – Lino Lakes residents and business owners packed the city council chambers Wednesday night for a public advisory meeting regarding the city’s water supply.
According to public works officials, additional state testing–beyond the standard and widespread but random in its occurence–recently revealed elevated levels of manganese in several of the city’s wells.
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Manganese is a naturally occurring element found in drinking water. Elevated levels can be most detrimental to babies, who can not process the elements the way a healthy adult’s body can.
Minnesota Department of Health officials came up with the guideline that the safe maximum levels for manganese levels in water supplies ought to be 100 parts per billion for infants and 300 parts per billion for adults. Wells in the city have measured manganese level much higher than that, while at least one was far below 100. The department has published information about manganese in drinking water.
Department of Health officials presented findings about manganese and how researchers came up with the standards for adults and infants, and listened and answered questions from the crowd. While many were concerned about overall health impacts and possible destruction to appliances and plumbing, some did ask direct questions about the possible impact on babies.
“I think regular infant and child physicals and assessments (are sufficient),” said Department of Health Toxicologist Helen Goeden, Ph.D. “I would certainly let your physician know if you have any particular concerns. But I don’t think, beyond that, there’s anything special (parents) need to do.”
She and other state officials stressed that the thresholds presented were not make-or-break numbers; if the child is taking in water that is slightly above 100 ppb, he or she would not immediately exhibit symptoms of high manganese exposure. Those symptoms include lethargy and a slowdown in motor skills.
Some residents shared frustration about the city’s notification about these issues with the water supply, which is shared with surrounding communities–which may not be subjected to the same testing from the state at this time.
“I don’t want to speak for the mayor or city council. We are not saying, at this time, that the city’s expecting all of the residents to come up with some sort of $3500 water filtration system for a single house,” said Lino Lakes Public Works Director Rick DeGardner. “We don’t know what the long-term solutions are going to be. What we’re doing is making sure you’re aware what the situation is so you can make your own decision.”
Watch the entire meeting here.
