Site-specific water quality criteria are developed when a pollutant in surface water is a special local or regional concern, or in situations where a regulatory limit is needed for permitting or remediation purposes.
The MPCA has developed water quality criteria for six types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis and the East Metro, including portions of the Mississippi River and St. Croix River. Water quality criteria were first developed for two types of PFAS, known as PFOS and PFOA, in 2020. Four additional PFAS were added in 2023. New data allowed for water quality criteria to be developed for eight miles of the Mississippi River between mile 812 and 820 in 2024.
General information on the PFAS water quality criteria can be found on our Developing water-quality criteria for PFAS webpage.
Surface waters with PFAS water quality criteria
