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The Zumbro River Watershed covers more than 900,000 acres and reaches parts of six counties in southeast Minnesota (Olmsted, Dodge, Steele, Rice, Goodhue, and Wabasha). Rochester, one of Minnesota's largest cities, is located in the southeast quadrant of the watershed.

SSTS inspections determine if the design and installation meet code requirements and whether the system is functioning properly to protect public health and groundwater.

Septic system owners are responsible for system maintenance. Properly maintaining a septic system will extend its life.

By taking steps beyond compliance to reduce your business's energy use and transportation impact and increasing the sustainability of your business's operations, your business can see tangible benefits.

Complaints of discrimination will be investigated

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for all of Minnesota. The alert runs until noon on Monday, Aug. 4. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, in all of Minnesota,

General permit intended for facilities using processes including abrasive blasting, brazing, catalytic or thermal oxidizers, dip tanks, injection molding, resin and gel coating, spraying and coating activities, and welding.

Chloride is a problem for wastewater facilities and stormwater permittees.

We offer various levels of training on a variety of topics including salt application, wastewater operator training and hazardous waste.

Apply for funds to help assess sites with known or suspected contamination and develop remediation plans.

Young Life Castaway Club violated several wastewater regulations, mainly modifying wastewater treatment systems without approval, between 2019 and 2022 at its youth and family camp on Pelican Lake, just south of Detroit Lakes. These violations carry serious risks of harm to the environment.

Environmental regulations vary by industry. To help you navigate this, we've compiled key considerations based on common industries, processes, and equipment.

Certain types of permits and approvals to conduct solid waste activities require a notification to the MPCA of the intent to perform the specified solid waste activity.

The Climate Smart Food Systems initiative, funded by the U.S. EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, positions Minnesota as a national model for transforming our food system from farm to freezer.

The MPCA provides assistance and training for program managers and operators of household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities to ensure compliance with environmental and worker protection laws and regulations.

MPCA invited grant proposals from public, private, and nonprofit delivery and commercial service providers to fund cleaner transportation vehicles.

The MPCA completed 78 enforcement cases for water quality, air quality, waste, stormwater, and wastewater violations in the second half of 2025, for a total of 146 for the year.

Addressing climate change presents us with a historic opportunity to strengthen our economy, improve our health, and create a more equitable Minnesota for everyone.

Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups, in the Twin Cities and central Minnesota

MPCA policy recommendations for the upcoming legislative session