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Well testing decision to be discussed

NEW ULM — One of the most hot-button issues facing Brown County is Well Water Nitrate Testing. In order to learn more about the issue Minnesota Voices: Marching Forward has invited Brown County Commissioners Dave Borchert and Scott Windschitl to its next meeting to discuss the issue.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, at the Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N. Minnesota St.

The subject of nitrate testing in wells first came up in December. A resolution for a Joint Powers Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for the Township Nitrate-Nitrogen Testing Program came before the Brown County Board of Commissioners.

Commissioner Scott Windschitl favored the testing and made a motion to support it, but the motion failed for lack of second.

The testing program offered by the MDH was free. Brown County would not have been financially responsible for any expenses other than staff time to answer landowner questions on the program.

The reason the commissioners were hesitant to approve was due to negative reaction from those in the agriculture community.

Greg Bartz from the Brown County FArm Bureau and Keith Lendt from the Brown County Corn and Soybean Growers Association were at the meeting to express their concerns, and have defended the decision in letters to the editor in The Journal and alternative opinion pieces in the Star Tribune.

High nitrate levels can come from a variety sources, including lawn fertilizer. The concern was if enough well had a high nitrate level area farmers would be blamed. Some feared the data associated with nitrate testing would be used by the state to impose new mandates if nitrate levels came back too high.

The free testing offered by MDA has been accepted by close to 20 different counties in Minnesota. Brown County became the first to not accept the free testing. This has caught the attention of environmental groups and Brown County residents because high nitrate levels can be hazardous to children.

According to the MDA, water with nitrate levels above 10 mg/L is not safe for infants younger than 6 months of age, pregnant women may be at risk along with other people with specific metabolic conditions and boiling such water increases the nitrate concentration.

The MDA warned that infants consuming high amounts of nitrates may develop Blue Baby Syndrome (Methemoglobinemia), a potentially fatal disease. It first appears as blue coloration of the fingers, lips, ears, etc.

Heather Bregel with Minnesota Voices: Marching Forward said the topic has become heated among the groups 230 members. Typically, Minnesota Voices: Marching Forward holds a meeting the last Monday of the month. In light of the controversy surrounding well water testing the group decided to invite Commissioners Borchert and Windschitl for a more in-depth discussion.

Bregel said little of the back and forth discussion the commissioners had on the issue was reported and this forum was a chance to get that message out to the public. In addition, the well testing agreement could return to future commissioner agenda since it was not officially voted down.

Randy Krzmarzick with Farmer’s Union is expected to attend the meeting along with the two commissioners, which could allow for a panel discussion on the testing program.

Bregel said “Anyone is welcome to attend, whether you are for or against the testing.”

There are several member with the Marching Forward group with opinions, but not everyone is decided. Bregel admitted she did not know enough about the subject to make a decision one way or another.

“I think everyone wants clean water,” she said “but I understand the concerns others have about regulation.”

Brown County does offer free water testing for families with newborn. There has been some early discussions about expanding this offer to all families, which is likely to be elaborated on during Monday’s meeting.

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