Health Alerts for Eden Prairie Spring Water

My wife and I recently moved to Chaska, Minnesota. Driving along Flying Cloud Drive to Eden Prairie, we found two local springs improved with pipes delivering water to the public. The two springs I refer to are the Frederick-Miller Spring (FMS) and the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area Spring (RTAS). Many local Minnesotans from Chanhassen, Shakopee, and the surrounding areas fill up tanks for drinking water from these springs.

The city of Eden Praire reports testing these springs monthly for bacteria and nitrates, but no mineral analysis data is available. The results below are the most recent and complete mineral analysis results for both sites and might be the first mineral analysis performed at RTAS.

A water and environmental anayslis lab conducted testing on the water samples I took from both springs on November 17th, 2021. The results returned two health alerts for Arsenic Screening and Manganese at the RTAS.(1) The FMS yeilded no health alerts based on mineral content.(1) Discussion is focused on the two health alerts identified for manganese and arsenic screening in the RTAS.

Frederik-Miller Spring - Mineral Analysis Results

Calcium - 105.3 mg/l

Copper - < 0.001 mg/l

Iron - < 0.005 mg/l

Lead - < 0.004 mg/l

Magnesium - 37.34 mg/l

Manganese - < 0.001 mg/l

• Previously reported as 0.003 mg/l on 11/1/11 by averaging two results from independent labs - Premier Water Technologies

Potassium - 2.862 mg/l

Sodium - 14.980 mg/l

Sulfate - 26.85 mg/l

Zinc - < 0.003 mg/l

Arsenic Screen - 0.006 mg/l

• Previously reported as 0.001 mg/l on 11/1/11 by averaging two results from independent labs - Premier Water Technologies

Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area Spring - Mineral Analysis Results

Calcium - 97.45mg/l

Copper - < 0.001 mg/l

Iron - 0.327 mg/l

Lead - < 0.004 mg/l

Magnesium - 33.560 mg/l

Manganese - 0.338 mg/l (High)

Potassium - 3.761 mg/l

Sodium - 5.966 mg/l

Sulfate - 27.67 mg/l

Zinc - < 0.003 mg/l

Arsenic Screen - 0.015 mg/l (High)

Manganese is an element found in soil and rock that comes into contact with groundwater. Your body needs manganese to stay healthy, but too much can be harmful. During this test, manganese was detected in the RTAS at a level that exceeds the health advisory level of 0.300 mg/l (300 parts per billion) set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).(1) Minnesota also uses this health advisory level to explain the risks of elevated manganese on human health.(2)

If you drink more than eight cups of water in a day or have liver disease, you should avoid drinking water with high manganese.(1) And most people should be drinking eight cups of water to stay hydrated!

Years of exposure to high levels of manganese can cause harm to the nervous system.(1,2) According to the Minnesota Department of Health, infants should not drink water or formula made with water containing more than 0.100 mg/l manganese.(2) Studies also suggest early childhood and prenatal exposure to water with high manganese can lead to problems with behavior, memory, attention, and learning skills.(1,2) These problems can also occur in adults exposed to water with high manganese.(1,2)

The health advisory level for manganese and other minerals protects against potential health effects from these minerals.(1,2) If you are drinking water with elevated manganese (like from the RTAS), consider a source with lower manganese, water treatment, or bottled water to reduce your manganese intake.

Arsenic is another element from soil or rock that can contact groundwater. Concentrations of arsenic greater than 0.01 mg/l requires steps to reduce arsenic levels in drinking water.(3) However, drinking water with levels of arsenic less than 0.01 mg/l for long periods still may pose a health risk. The EPA reccommends having an arsenic level in drinking water as close to zero as possible.(3)

Arsenic levels greater than 0.01 mg/l shows that the water is not recommended for drinking or preparing foods with large amounts of water (e.g., infant formula, coffee, and tea).(1) Long-term consumption of water with high arsenic increases the risk of certain types of cancers.(3,4) Exposure to arsenic is associated with lower cognitive function, learning disabilities, and neurologic disorders.(3,4) Arsenic consumption is also associated with chronic disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and organ damage.(3,4)

The screening arsenic results for the RTAS indicate a need for follow-up testing to confirm an arsenic level greater than 0.01 mg/l or 10 ppb (current EPA standard for drinking water).(1)

As a naturopathic doctor in the community, I have cause for concern that my patients and fellow Minnesotans may be drinking untreated spring water with mineral levels above health advisory levels. It is especially concerning that many may believe that drinking this spring water is good for their health. I intend to perform the needed follow-up testing for arsenic at the RTAS and repeat my previous results to explore consistencies or inconsistencies in the data.

There is still a lot we do not know about the water quality of these two springs. The results obtained cover some of the more common markers of water quality. It is important to recognize that safe levels of the elements identified above does not guarantee that the water is free of other toxic elements or chemicals such as cadmium, gasoline residues, pesticides, or other trace chemicals.(1)

I love spring water, and I want the public to have access to more comprehensive testing of springs to identify and protect the highest quality sources.

Do you have other spring water sources you use or know to be popular in Minnesota? Please let me know in the comments below. I am interested in doing more testing at other springs. I want this work to increase the public knowledge of spring water quality in Minnesota.

References:

1. Center for Watershed Science and Education - Water and Environmental Analysis Lab. Labratory Results and Interpreting Well Water Quality. Stevens Point, WI; 2020. www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/watershed.

2. Manganese in Drinking Water. Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Health Division. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/contaminants/manganese.html. Published 2021. Accessed March 10, 2022.

3. Arsenic in Drinking Water. Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Health Division. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/contaminants/arsenic.html. Published 2019. Accessed March 10, 2022.

4. Crinnon W, Pizzorno J. Clinical Environmental Medicine: Identification and Natural Treatment of Disease Caused by Common Pollutants. Elsevier Inc.; 2019.