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MPCA rules govern how septic systems are designed, installed, and managed.
Application forms and instructions for applying for wastewater permits.
When leaves fall on streets, sidewalks, and other hardscapes in urban areas, they wash into the storm drains and end up in lakes and rivers where they feed algae growth. The algae then decomposes and uses up oxygen that fish and native plants need.
Testing found elevated levels of tetrachloroethylene/perchloroethylene (PCE or Perc) in soil vapors around the Dison’s Cleaners and Launderers site in Rochester.
The MPCA recognized 236 wastewater facilities for outstanding operations in 2024.
Kathy Wagner, recipient of the 2025 Community Conservationist Award from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD), discusses her personal conservation work and local environmental advocacy.
Countless bacteria can be found in land, water, humans, and animals. Most bacteria are beneficial, serving as food for larger organisms and playing critical roles in natural processes such as organic…
Minnesota has a new law that prohibits nonessential use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
To best serve the needs of all Minnesotans for healthy air, sustainable lands, clean water, and a better climate, the MPCA has committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce that…
The MPCA is investigating the source of the chemical 1,4-dioxane in private wells in Gem Lake.
1,4-dioxane was mainly used as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvent 1,1,1-trichloroethane. 1,4-dioxane can also be an unintended contaminant in the production of certain products, including some…
State government agencies, in collaboration with local partners, are leading trailblazing work to protect Minnesotans from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution.
MPCA's fish sampling process and why we do it
Some pollutants attach to suspended particles in the water and subsequently settle out to the bottom sediment. At elevated concentrations, contaminated sediments can contribute to fish…
Systems to treat drinking water have been installed to address groundwater contamination in two St. Louis Park and three Edina municipal wells.
Use these tools to help educate the public and boost participation in your household hazardous waste program.
Data shows that ice cover on Minnesota's lakes doesn't last as long as it used to. That means a shorter ice fishing season, yes, but it also has implications for the environment and Minnesota's fish and wildlife.
The Mississippi River - La Crescent Watershed drains 95 square miles in Houston and southeast Winona counties, an area defined by wooded bluffs and spring-fed cold-water streams that flow directly to the Mississippi River.
The Rapid River watershed covers 573,060 acres in northern Minnesota. Over 79% of the land in the watershed is owned or managed by state entities.
Residential wood burning has been increasing in Minnesota, both for home heating and recreation.