Report on Manganese Contamination in Minnesota’s Water Supply and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Several municipalities in Minnesota, including the city of Mound, are confronting significant challenges in providing safe drinking water due to unsafe levels of manganese. This issue directly impacts the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The primary conflict involves balancing the high cost of municipal water treatment infrastructure against the fundamental need for safe, accessible water, a core tenet of sustainable community development as outlined in SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Water Quality and SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The situation in Minnesota highlights a critical gap in achieving Target 6.1, which calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.

• Unsafe levels of manganese have been detected in the water systems of Mound and over three dozen other cities in the state.
• The contamination was identified following voluntary testing prompted by updated state health recommendations.
• Mayor Jason Holt of Mound has articulated the core responsibility of municipal governments, stating, “the city, just like every city in the state, should be providing drinkable water at the source.”
• The lack of a centralized treatment solution means the community is not being provided with safely managed drinking water services.

Health Impacts and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The presence of excess manganese in drinking water poses a direct threat to public health, undermining the objective of SDG 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

• Manganese is a naturally occurring element necessary for human health in small amounts.
• Excess consumption through drinking water is linked to significant health risks, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
• Health Risks for Adults: Potential decline in neurological functions, including attention, memory, and motor skills.
• Health Risks for Infants: Potential development of learning or behavioral problems.

Proposed Solutions and Socio-Economic Challenges

Addressing the contamination involves navigating complex solutions with varying levels of effectiveness, cost, and equity, touching upon SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

1. Interim Individual Measures: The Department of Health currently recommends solutions that place the burden on residents.
   • Purchasing bottled water.
   • Using water softeners.
   • Installing home treatment systems.
2. Long-Term Municipal Infrastructure: The primary proposed solution is the construction of a municipal water treatment plant.
   • This approach aligns with the principle of providing safe water at the source.
   • A significant barrier is the high financial cost, which could lead to increased water bills for residents, raising concerns about affordability and equity.

Governance and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The decision-making process in cities like Mound is a test of governance and the ability to build resilient and sustainable communities. Local leaders must address the provision of basic services, a key component of SDG 11.

• The debate over constructing a treatment plant reflects the challenge of investing in essential infrastructure.
• The call by Mayor Holt to “have an adult conversation” signifies the need for transparent and accountable institutional processes to resolve this public health and infrastructure issue.
• As noted by a Department of Health official, “There is no perfect solution,” underscoring the difficulty for local institutions in balancing public health mandates with fiscal responsibility.

SDGs Addressed or Connected

Detailed Explanation

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The core issue is the contamination of the public water supply in Mound and other Minnesota cities with “unsafe levels of manganese.” The article directly discusses the community’s struggle to access “drinkable water at the source,” the need for a “water treatment plant,” and the high costs associated with ensuring water safety, which touches upon the goal of providing safe and affordable water for all.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article explicitly links the water contamination issue to public health. It states that drinking excess levels of manganese “can cause neurological problems,” such as declining “attention, memory and motor skills” in adults and potential “learning or behavior problems” in infants. This directly relates to the goal of reducing illnesses from water pollution and ensuring healthy lives.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The problem is framed within the context of municipal governance and basic services for communities. The article mentions that “more than three dozen Minnesota cities” are affected and that the mayor of Mound believes the “city, just like every city in the state, should be providing drinkable water at the source.” This highlights the challenge for cities to provide essential, safe services to their residents, which is a key component of making communities sustainable and inclusive.

Specific Targets Identified

Detailed Explanation

1. Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article directly addresses this target. The water in Mound is not safe due to “unsafe levels of manganese.” The affordability aspect is also highlighted by the concern of residents who urge leaders to “avoid hiking already high water bills” to pay for a new treatment plant.
2. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. Manganese in the drinking water is identified as a hazardous substance. The article details the potential illnesses, stating that excess levels can cause “neurological problems” in adults and “learning or behavior problems” in infants, directly aligning with the goal of reducing illness from water contamination.
3. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials… The presence of manganese, a substance “naturally found in rocks, soil and groundwater,” represents a water quality problem. The proposed solution of building a “water treatment plant” is a direct measure to improve water quality by removing this hazardous chemical before it reaches consumers.
4. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services… Safe drinking water is a fundamental basic service for any community. The struggle of the city of Mound to provide this service, as articulated by Mayor Jason Holt, shows a direct connection to this target. The article underscores the city’s responsibility to provide “drinkable water at the source” for its residents.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

Detailed Explanation

• Implied Indicator for Target 6.1 (Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services): The article implies this indicator by stating that “unsafe levels of manganese were detected in the city’s water supply” and that this affects “more than three dozen Minnesota cities.” This suggests that the proportion of the population in these areas using safely managed drinking water (defined as being free from contamination) is below 100%. The number of cities with contaminated water systems serves as a proxy measure.
• Implied Indicator for Target 3.9 (Morbidity rate attributed to unsafe water): While the article does not provide statistics on illnesses, it clearly mentions the health risks, including potential declines in “attention, memory and motor skills” and “learning or behavior problems.” An implied indicator would be the incidence of these specific health conditions in populations exposed to high levels of manganese, which the Minnesota Department of Health tracks through its research and recommendations.
• Implied Indicator for Target 6.3 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality): The article directly refers to a measure of water quality by mentioning the detection of “unsafe levels of manganese.” Therefore, a specific indicator implied by the text is the “concentration of manganese in the municipal water supply.” The state’s updated manganese recommendations provide a specific threshold, and the number of water systems exceeding this threshold is a clear measure of progress.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: startribune.com